Stage n. 71
Motta San Giovanni – Armo
Area
Aspromonte
Difficulty
E- also accessible by MTB
Distance
17 km
Travel time
7 – 10 hrs
Start
Motta San Giovanni
Finish
Armo
Difference in altitude
↑ 200m ↓500m
Accessible
All year round
Springs and fountainheads with waypoint
No
River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)
During winter time or in the eventuality of floods of the Fiumara Valanidi, it might be necessary to detour to the bridge, adding an extra 1.2km to the trail.
This stage of unique landscapes will take hikers back to Medieval times on a trail between Motta San Giovanni and Armo, where the Strait of Messina will come almost in full view. Motta San Giovanni features the magnificent remains of the Castle of Santo Niceto, an ancient Byzantine stronghold built around the first half of the XI century, said to resemble the shape of a ship with the bow looking to the Aspromonte Massif and the stern looking towards the Strait. Armo is a small hamlet with a population of 200 inhabitants just before Monte San Demetrio.
Castle of Sant’Aniceto from above
This stage of unique landscapes will take hikers back to Medieval times on a trail between Motta San Giovanni and Armo, where the Strait of Messina will come almost in full view. Motta San Giovanni features the magnificent remains of the Castle of Santo Niceto, an ancient Byzantine stronghold built around the first half of the XI century, said to resemble the shape of a ship with the bow looking to the Aspromonte Massif and the stern looking towards the Strait. Armo is a small hamlet with a population of 200 inhabitants just before Monte San Demetrio.
Castle of Sant’Aniceto from above
Area
Aspromonte
Difficulty
E- also accessible by MTB
Distance
17 km
Travel time
7 – 10 hrs
Start
Motta San Giovanni
Finish
Armo
Difference in altitude
↑ 200m ↓500m
Accessible
All year round
Springs and fountainheads with waypoint
No
River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)
During winter time or in the eventuality of floods of the Fiumara Valanidi, it might be necessary to detour to the bridge, adding an extra 1.2km to the trail.
Cave of Sant’Arsenio
Route
Brief historical overview
Motta San Giovanni is only a few kilometres away from the sea and was almost completely destroyed during the 1783 earthquake (that spared the Castle of Santo Niceto – substantial remains of the castle are still visible to this day). The shape of the Castle is said to resemble a ship, with the bow looking to the Aspromonte Massif and the stern looking towards the Strait of Messina. It was an ancient Byzantine stronghold against Saracen raids built around the first half of the XI century by locals and a number of Sicilian refugees faithful followers of Santo Niceto, Byzantine admiral of the VIII century.
Ghost town of Gumeno
Armo (from the local dialect of “cliff”, “spur”), is a small hamlet with a population of 200 inhabitants just before Monte San Demetrio. It was the site chosen by Sant’Arsenio (Basilian monk that lived around the IX century) for prayer and contemplation with his disciple Sant’Elia lo Speleota. In Armo it is possible to find a kind of endemic sage called Salvia Incisa (Salvia Ceratophylloides) that only grows in these territories.
Vista della città di Reggio Calabria
Map and elevation profile
Further information
Guide of reference for the stage: Demetrio D’Arrigo +39 347 6476347
[Reggio Calabria]
Comune Reggio di Calabria – tel. +39 0965 362111 – web: www.comune.reggio-calabria.it/ – mail: staffrete@comune.reggio-calabria.it
Pro Loco Reggio di Calabria – web: www.prolocoreggiocalabria.it – mail: info@prolocoreggiocalabria.it
Where to sleep
Extra: not verified
[Armo]
Religious hospitality – Comunità Sant’Arsenio – tel. +39 346 0881685 – mail: info@coopsantarsenio.com
With thanks to Regione Calabria for the Contribution to the project.
Last update: 2021-12-31
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Project realised with the contribution of Regione Calabria
Project realised with the contribution of Regione Calabria