Scilla  is one of the best known town of Calabria. It is situated on the coast of the Tyrrhenian  sea in front of Capo Peloro (of the nearby Sicily). The town rises partially around the famous rocca (fortress). In the Marina Grande quarter there is the Church of the Holy Spirit Chiesa dello Spirito Santo who’s façade is one of the most notable examples of Baroque art in the province of Reggio Calabria. Within the Church there is a Venetian organ of the 16th century. On the Rocca there is the ancient castle of the Ruffo. Besides that, to the north, there is the fisher’s district called Chianalea. It’s characteristic charm and colours have long enchanted visitors and especially painters. Walking down  the steps that eventually lead to the monumental fountains ad the sea below, one can observe the fishermen’s cooking and see the characteristic small steps, newspaper stands and flowers. Beyond the Chianalea district there is the porticciolo. The St.  Rocco quarter, that was once owned by the farmers, can be seen on the plateau that is visible from the motor way exit. The quarter is filled interesting architecture of the 17th  century. There is a beautiful piazza that overlooks Marina Grande  and the castle. The fraction of Favazzina is also  part of the  Comune of Scilla. It’s located  along the sea where the “Costa Viola” becomes a cliff. Favazzina has learned to live  with the steep  mountains that tower over it. In fact the farmers have cultivated a prized kind of lemon (the verdello) and a prized kind of grapes (the zibibbo) on the bold terraces. There is also an ancient abandoned water mill in. From the fraction of Melia you can  reach directly the Aspromonte and the well known tourist area of Gambarie. Another fraction of of Scilla is Solano Superiore. It’s a typical mountain and woodland town of great naturalistic interest. We known of Scilla because of the passage through it of Ulysses. Here he built a temple dedicated to Minerva on the rocks, to thank the Goddess  who saved him from his shipwreck. It is also known that many centuries before the arrival of the greeks, the area was inhabited by the Tyrrhenians .  When Analissa became the Lord of Scilla he collaborated with the opposed Cariddi, in making the passage of the enemy boats through the strait, a very difficult venture. ASfter the death of Analissa and the expulsion of his son from Scilla, the town came  under the jurisdiction of Reggino  and thus was ruled under the laws of the Republic. In about 1500, high round towers were  built all around the coast  for vedettes to give the alarm in the event that Turkish or barbarian ships grew near. In fact at that time these populatios constantly attempted to invade the south  of Calabria. The arrival of such ships was communicated by the vedette of the torre del cavallo (built opposite Peloro) to the vedette of the towers that was located on the hill of St. Gregorio. This last vedette passed the message onto his colleagues of the tower of Capo Pesci from which the citizens were warmed of the incoming danger.

	Hotel u Bais****  loc Chianalea,  Marina di Scilla   RC Tel. +39 0965/704300 - 704299