Bova, Calabria
Bova Χώρα του Βούα (Greek) | |
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Comune | |
Comune di Bova | |
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![]() Coat of arms | |
Location of Bova ![]() | |
38°0′N 15°56′E / 38.000°N 15.933°E / 38.000; 15.933 | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Calabria |
Metropolitan city | Reggio Calabria (RC) |
Government | |
• Mayor | Giovanni Andrea Casile |
Area [1] | |
• Total | 46.9 km2 (18.1 sq mi) |
Elevation | 820 m (2,690 ft) |
Population (2007)[2] | |
• Total | 461 |
• Density | 9.8/km2 (25/sq mi) |
Demonym | Bovesi |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 89033 |
Dialing code | 0965 |
Website | Official website |
Bova (Calabrian Greek: Χώρα του Βούα, romanized: Chòra tu Vùa; Calabrian: Vùa; Ancient Greek: ὁ Βούας, romanized: ó Boúas) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about 120 kilometres (75 mi) southwest of Catanzaro and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Reggio. It is one of the Greek-Bovesian speaking villages of Bovesia, one of the two Griko-speaking areas of southern Italy. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[3]
History
Archaeological findings have attested human presence in the area to as early as the Neolithic age; in the pre-Roman age, the area was inhabited by the Ausones. Greek colonists founded a city (known as Delia or Deri) in what is now the borough of San Pasquale. This city followed the events of the wars between the major Greek centres in the area, Reggio, Locri and Syracuse, and was later subjected by the latter. After the Roman conquest, it became a town with citizenship rights.
In 440 Delia was ravaged by the Vandals. The unceasing attacks from sea pushed most of the towns in the area to resettle in safer locations far from the coast. The inhabitants from Delia founded the current Bova on a slope of the Aspromonte, at some 900 metres (3,000 ft) in elevation. This did not prevent the Saracens from attacking the town repeatedly and, in 953, from sacking it. Many of its inhabitants were deported, by order of the Sicilian Muslim emir Hassan al-Kalbi, as slaves to Africa. The Arabs besieged Bova again in 1075.
Under the Normans (11th century) Bova became an ecclesiastical fief under the Archbishop of Reggio, who held it until the abolition of feudalism in 1806. In the 16th century Bova's territory received numerous coastal watchtowers as defense against African pirates.
In World War II the town was heavily bombed by the Allies in 1943.
Demographic evolution
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/gaedjv87qyw3kfpdccj3qqp000tdmgm.png)
References
External links
- Official website
- v
- t
- e
- Africo
- Agnana Calabra
- Anoia
- Antonimina
- Ardore
- Bagaladi
- Bagnara Calabra
- Benestare
- Bianco
- Bivongi
- Bova
- Bova Marina
- Bovalino
- Brancaleone
- Bruzzano Zeffirio
- Calanna
- Camini
- Campo Calabro
- Candidoni
- Canolo
- Caraffa del Bianco
- Cardeto
- Careri
- Casignana
- Caulonia
- Ciminà
- Cinquefrondi
- Cittanova
- Condofuri
- Cosoleto
- Delianuova
- Feroleto della Chiesa
- Ferruzzano
- Fiumara
- Galatro
- Gerace
- Giffone
- Gioia Tauro
- Gioiosa Ionica
- Grotteria
- Laganadi
- Laureana di Borrello
- Locri
- Mammola
- Marina di Gioiosa Ionica
- Maropati
- Martone
- Melicuccà
- Melicucco
- Melito di Porto Salvo
- Molochio
- Monasterace
- Montebello Ionico
- Motta San Giovanni
- Oppido Mamertina
- Palizzi
- Palmi
- Pazzano
- Placanica
- Platì
- Polistena
- Portigliola
- Reggio Calabria
- Riace
- Rizziconi
- Roccaforte del Greco
- Roccella Ionica
- Roghudi
- Rosarno
- Samo
- San Ferdinando
- San Giorgio Morgeto
- San Giovanni di Gerace
- San Lorenzo
- San Luca
- San Pietro di Caridà
- San Procopio
- San Roberto
- Sant'Agata del Bianco
- Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte
- Sant'Eufemia d'Aspromonte
- Sant'Ilario dello Ionio
- Santa Cristina d'Aspromonte
- Santo Stefano in Aspromonte
- Scido
- Scilla
- Seminara
- Serrata
- Siderno
- Sinopoli
- Staiti
- Stignano
- Stilo
- Taurianova
- Terranova Sappo Minulio
- Varapodio
- Villa San Giovanni
![Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Province_of_Reggio-Calabria.svg/55px-Coat_of_Arms_of_the_Province_of_Reggio-Calabria.svg.png)