Grotteria is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about southwest of Catanzaro and about northeast of Reggio Calabria.
The local economy, once based on agriculture and shepherdry, has slowed due to emigration, which shrank the population from 9,242 in 1951 to about 3,380.
Grotteria borders the following municipalities: Fabrizia, Galatro, Gioiosa Ionica, Mammola, Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, Martone, San Giovanni di Gerace, Siderno.
Physical Geography Grotteria is a town in the Torbido Valley in Locride, located on the Ionian side. It is one of the areas of the Ionian coast, the 30th municipality by area in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Geological Characteristics The territory of Grotteria develops on a complex of white-yellowish evaporitic limestone, sometimes sandy, with thin layers of silts and silty clays. This geological substrate exhibits moderate erosion resistance and medium permeability.
In the surrounding areas, there are deposits of coarse sands, varying in color from light brown to whitish, characterized by good compaction and sandy intercalations. These deposits show moderate erosion resistance and high permeability, influencing the hydrogeological characteristics of the territory.
Origin of the Name Founded in an area inhabited since the 8th century BCE, according to archaeological findings in the surrounding areas, it is identified by some with the ancient Castrum Minervae. The toponym, which appears in 12th-century documents written in Greek as Agriotèra, Agriotèras, and Agriotèrou, was attested in the 14th century as Grutteriae, Agrettarie, and Gruttarie. It may be a compound of the Greek words àgrios ('wild') and tèra ('land'), or a derivative of the Greek krupterìa ('hidden place, hiding spot'). However, there are those who attribute the name of the town to the Latin CRYPTA AUREA, 'golden cave,' referring to the gold mines located nearby.
History The origins of Grotteria are uncertain. It seems to have been founded, before the 11th century BCE, by the Greek Idomeneus, who built a temple there dedicated to the goddess Minerva. For this reason, the town was called Eruma Atenaies (Castle of Minerva). Later, it was occupied by the Locrians, who renamed it Athenaeon, perhaps due to the presence of buildings where sciences and arts were taught.
When the Roman Emperor Augustus occupied many areas of Calabria (including Grotteria), the town’s name was again changed to Crypta-Aurea (Golden Cave). Nearby, there were mines that extracted minerals, including gold and silver. In the 10th century CE, the Saracens invaded the Calabrian coast, forcing populations to move inland.
The people of Grotteria also abandoned their homes, relocating to the top of a hill in an attempt to defend themselves from sea attacks. At the same time, Calabria came under Byzantine rule, and Grotteria was heavily influenced by Constantinople. Customs, religious rites, and names adapted to the traditions of the invaders. Even the name of the river Zarapotamo, which flows near the town, comes from Greek and means “dry river.”
A few years later, however, the Normans settled in the region, and Grotteria was included in the county of Roger of Altavilla, which governed the territories between Squillace and Reggio Calabria. At the beginning of the 12th century, the town became an independent lordship, gaining significant importance. However, this period of prosperity was short-lived due to two severe earthquakes in 1160 and 1184, which caused widespread damage and loss of life.
With the arrival of the Swabians in the 13th century, the town flourished again. Around 1458, Grotteria became the head of an important county, with 32 settlements under its jurisdiction, including Martone, Mammola, Siderno, Gioiosa Jonica, and San Giovanni. It reached its peak of prosperity in 1507 when its jurisdiction expanded to its maximum extent. During this time, the use of the vernacular language spread, and the town was referred to as Grottarea, then Grottaria, and eventually Grotteria.
After the earthquake of 1783 caused significant damage, there was an attempt to relocate the historic town center, but it was instead decided to rebuild it. Between the 13th and 18th centuries, several noble families held Grotteria, including the Piscicelli, Caracciolo, De Luna, and D’Aragona de Ayerbe families. The Carafa family held it for a long time, in two distinct periods, until 1806.
In 1806, Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, was proclaimed King of Naples. Following the new administrative reorganization, Grotteria became a circondano (district) with jurisdiction over Mammola, Gioiosa Jonica, Martone, and San Giovanni. However, once again, the town was devastated. On November 13, 1855, a violent storm destroyed homes and flooded the countryside, reducing many families to poverty. On November 13, 1855, a violent storm destroyed homes and flooded the countryside, reducing many families to poverty.
Monuments and Points of Interest
Religious Architecture The religious devotion of the people of Grotteria is evidenced by the fact that, throughout its history, Grotteria once possessed 23 places of worship. Today, only a few remain: the Church of Saint George the Martyr (commonly known as San Domenico); the Church of Saint Nicholas; the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Crucifix; the Cattolica dei Greci parish of Santa Maria Assunta (Matrice); the Chapel of the Conception; the little Church of Saint Anthony; and a recently constructed church. Many others no longer exist, such as the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Church of Saint George, the Church of Valverde, the Church of the Holy Help, the Church of the Trinity, the Chapel of Saint Onuphrius, the Church of the Holy Annunciation, the church known as the Oratory, and the small chapel of Bofia, also known as Our Lady of the Staircase.
Church of Saint George the Martyr (Also known as San Domenico) It was built in the 11th century and destroyed by the earthquake of 1793. Rebuilt, it was again damaged by the earthquake of March 7, 1928, and was renovated two years later. The facade features a stone portal with floral decorations, flanked by four fake Corinthian columns (two on each side). The interior has a single nave. The altar made of polychrome marble is topped by a statue of Our Lady of Pompeii, alongside Saints Catherine of Siena and Dominic. In the church, a marble baptismal font with a wooden cover and an ancient statue of Saint Philomena, donated to the parish by the Tavernese family, are also preserved.
Saint Anthony It was founded in 1640 by the lawyer Antonio De Maggio. Later, it became the private chapel of the Macedonio family. The facade features an entrance topped by a lunette tympanum with a coat of arms, above which is a window. Inside, there is a stone altarpiece with a statue of Saint Anthony of Padua. The chapel also houses the statue of Saint Vincent Ferrer (18th century).
Sanctuary of the Most Holy Crucifix It was built, larger and in a modern style, on the site of a pre-existing small church dating back to the 16th century. The small building suffered extensive damage from the 1783 earthquake and was completely destroyed by the 1908 earthquake. The facade features a masonry portal with two side niches. Inside, with a single nave, the Most Holy Crucifix (likely a 17th-century work by a Capuchin friar) is venerated, to which the people of Grotteria attribute a miracle. In February 1745, a terrible storm struck the area, causing damage and casualties. The faithful then carried the Crucifix in procession, and suddenly the rain ceased. From that moment, the Most Holy Crucifix became the patron of Grotteria, replacing Saint Gaudioso. Additionally, the sanctuary houses the statues of Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Valverde, a wooden statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and a richly adorned wooden casket containing the figure of the dead Christ, adorned with all the symbolic elements of the Passion.
Cattolica dei Greci Parish of Santa Maria Assunta (Matrice) One of the most important and imposing churches in the Diocese of Locri-Gerace, immediately after the minor basilica of Gerace. It was probably erected at the end of the 10th century under the name of Maria Santissima Assunta della Cattolica dei Greci. Destroyed by the earthquake of 1783, it was rebuilt and reopened for worship on November 12, 1926. The facade features a masonry portal topped by a broken tympanum and a rectangular window (also with a tympanum). Above, a blind rose window. On either side of the entrance, accessed via a staircase, there are two windows. A bell tower with a clock rises above the church. The interior has three naves. On the polychrome marble altar, there is a painting depicting the Crucifix. The walls and the apse dome are fully frescoed, and several large paintings of notable quality are displayed: “Crucifixion among Saints” (a 17th-century work in the style of Ribeira), “Saint Francis with the Assumption” (a 17th-century work by Fabrizio Santafede, part of Andrea da Salerno's school), originating from the Capuchin convent that once stood in the area now occupied by the Church of the Crucifix, “Madonna of Graces with Angels and Saints and a Young Nobleman” (an oil painting by the Neapolitan School, inscribed "Janaurius Sernelli A.D. 1720"). Along the naves, there are two altars with statues of the Immaculate Virgin and Saint Joseph. The church also houses the statues of Our Lady of the Rosary, Madonna of Graces, Saint Lucy, Saint John the Apostle, Saint Anthony, the Risen Christ (originally from the old church next to the current Tocco Square Theater), Saint Francis of Paola with relics, and Saint Anthony Abbot (the latter a work by local painter and sculptor Giuseppe Cavaleri).
San Nicola de' Francò The Church of Saint Nicholas of Bari is called "de' Francò" after the surname of a faithful woman who initiated the construction of the building in the 15th century. The facade features a stone portal topped by a window. Above, a masonry structure with bells can be found. Inside, with a single nave, there is a polychrome marble altar on which a painting depicting the Madonna with the Child, alongside Saints Nicholas and Dominic, is placed. The church also houses a statue of Saint Nicholas.
Chapel of the Conception The chapel, located within the catacombs of the main church (matrice), was established between the 13th and 14th centuries. Part of the original structure remains, including a section of the pavement and the skeleton of some stairs that connected it to the matriz. Restoration work on the catacombs and the expansion of the chapel was halted due to the risk of collapse. Inside, there is an ancient marble statue depicting Our Lady of the Conception with the Child (4th century A.D.).
Saint Nicholas de Protonotaris in Contrada Pirgo Built in 1963 to better serve the various fractions beyond the Torbido river, after the transfer of the parish from the Church of Saint Stephen the Pope (in the homonymous district) to Pirgo. After this church, another was built nearby, which today serves as the parish’s current home.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces in Contrada Farri The sanctuary was built, probably around the 1400s, depending on the Monastery of Santa Barbara in Mammola and later on the Matrice of Grotteria. It was rebuilt multiple times due to flooding from the Torbido river. On July 27, 1997, Our Lady of Graces of Farri was proclaimed Queen and protector of the Torbido Valley, and the feast is celebrated on the last Sunday of July.
Saint Stephen the Pope and Martyr