Aspromonte in the context of "Quercus ilex"

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⭐ Core Definition: Aspromonte

The Aspromonte is a mountain massif in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria (Calabria, southern Italy). In Italian aspro means "rough" whereas in Greek it means "white" (Άσπρος), therefore the name literally translates to either "rough mountain" or "white mountain". It overlooks the Strait of Messina, being limited by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas and by the Pietrace river. The highest peak is Montalto (1,955 m (6,414 ft)). The constituting rocks are mostly gneiss, and mica schists, which form characteristic overlapping terraces. The massif is part of the Aspromonte National Park.

In the short coastal strip citrus fruits, vine and olives are grown, while at high elevations the vegetation is composed mostly by oak and holm oak under 1,000 m (3,300 ft), and by pine, Sicilian fir and beech over it. Olive trees grow in abundance. Also, the rare bergamot, the lemony-yellow fruit used in perfumes and flavouring for Earl Grey tea, only grows in the southern Aspromonte.

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In this Dossier

Aspromonte in the context of Griko people

The Griko people (Greek: Γκρίκο), also known as Grecanici in Calabria, are an ethnic Greek community of Southern Italy. They are found principally in the regions of Calabria and Apulia (peninsula of Salento). The Griko are believed to be remnants of the once large Ancient and Medieval Greek communities of Southern Italy (the ancient Magna Graecia region), although there is some dispute among scholars as to whether the Griko community is directly descended from Ancient Greeks, from more recent medieval migrations during the Byzantine period, or a combination of both.

A long-standing debate over the origin of the Griko dialect has produced two main theories about the origins of Griko. According to the first theory, developed by Giuseppe Morosi in 1870, Griko originated from the Hellenistic Koine when in the Byzantine era [...] waves of immigrants arrived from Greece to Salento. Some decades after Morosi, Gerhard Rohlfs, in the wake of Hatzidakis, claimed instead that Griko was a local variety evolved directly from the ancient Greek.

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Aspromonte in the context of Reggio Calabria

Reggio di Calabria (Southern Calabrian: Riggiu; Calabrian Greek: Ρήγι, romanizedRìji), commonly and officially referred to as Reggio Calabria, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, is the largest city in Calabria as well as the seat of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. As of 2025, it has 168,572 inhabitants and is the twenty-first most populous city in Italy, after Modena and other Italian cities. Reggio Calabria is located near the center of the Mediterranean and is known for its climate, ethnic and cultural diversity. It is the third economic centre of mainland Southern Italy. About 511,935 people live in its metropolitan city.

Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula and is separated from the island of Sicily by the Strait of Messina. It is situated on the slopes of the Aspromonte, a long, craggy mountain range that runs up through the centre of the region.

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Aspromonte in the context of Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria

Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria (Italian: città metropolitana di Reggio Calabria) is an area of local government at the level of metropolitan city in the Calabria region of Italy. It comprises the territory of the city of Reggio Calabria and 97 other comuni (sg.: comune) in the hinterland of the city. It has 511,935 inhabitants as of 2025. It replaced the province of Reggio Calabria in 2017.

Comprising the "toe" of the boot-shaped Italian Peninsula, the Aspromonte massif dominates the western part of the metropolitan city's territory: with its long coastline, it is a popular tourist destination during the summer.

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Aspromonte in the context of Montalto (Aspromonte)

Montalto is the highest peak of the Aspromonte, a massif in southern Calabria in Southern Italy. Located near Gambarie in the province of Reggio Calabria, it has an elevation of 1,955 metres (6,414 ft) above sea level. It is part of the Aspromonte National Park.

The Territorial Abbey and Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Polsi, a Christian sanctuary in the heart of the Aspromonte mountains, is situated at the bottom of a gorge at an altitude of 865 metres surrounded by high mountains on the east side of the Montalto. The sanctuary is difficult to reach and until some years ago could only be reached by foot.

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Aspromonte in the context of Rhegium

Reggio di Calabria (Sicilian: Riggiu; Calabrian Greek: Ρήγι, romanizedRìji), commonly and officially referred to as Reggio Calabria, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, is the largest city in Calabria as well as the seat of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. As of 2025, it has 168,572 inhabitants and is the twenty-first most populous city in Italy, after Modena and other Italian cities. Reggio Calabria is located near the center of the Mediterranean and is known for its climate, ethnic and cultural diversity. It is the third economic centre of mainland Southern Italy. About 511,935 people live in its metropolitan city.

Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula and is separated from the island of Sicily by the Strait of Messina. It is situated on the slopes of the Aspromonte, a long, craggy mountain range that runs up through the centre of the region.

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