Calabrisella Mia

Scolacium is one of many destinations in Calabria that many, including Calabrians, don’t know about. And, honestly, they are missing out! It’s without a doubt an important historical site in Calabria. Not to mention it offers visitors a unique experience, an experience that blends and weaves together elements from Ancient Greece, Rome, and Medieval times!

Where Is It?

Scolacium is not too far inland from the shores of the Gulf of Squillace on the east coast of Calabria. It is part of the municipality of Borgia in the province of Catanzaro. What makes this area so interesting is that it contains an ancient 40-hectare olive grove. I know what you are thinking – what’s so unique about an olive grove in southern Italy? Well, this ancient olive grove kept a hidden treasure secret for many years.

Brief History of Scolacium

Scolacium, also known as Scylletium/ Skyllétion, was a colony of Ancient Greece (aka the Magna Graecia). Greek colonists from Athens immediately saw the strategic advantage of this area along the Ionian coast and decided to settle. Some legends say that Ulysses himself was the founder of this colony.

In 120 BC, the Romans took over and renamed the town Minerva Scolacium. In typical Roman fashion, they began constructing various buildings to give it their own personal touch.

The town was prosperous and continued expanding under the direction of Emperor Nerva. This expansion included building thermal baths and a new amphitheater. The town even got a new name – Colonia Minervia Augusta Scolacium. (Try saying that five times fast – yikes!)

After the fall of the Romans, other civilizations stepped in including the Normans. They left their mark on this territory by building the Basilica Santa Maria della Roccella which still dominates the landscape of this territory today.

But the history of this intriguing place doesn’t stop here. At the end of the 19th Century, this area became private property. The land was used to cultivate wheat and oil which is why this whole area is exploding with ancient olive trees!

The Archaeological Park & Museum

The Archaeological Park, set up in 1982, is still undergoing excavations and research. Today you can see, for the most part, Roman ruins, with hints of Greek elements. However, this site quite impressively offers visitors a passage through time. Starting from the Roman ruins and its informative museum housing many artifacts from the area, to a medieval church and finally an intact ancient oil mill.

The Roman Ruins

The ruins of Scolacium consist of a Forum, with its unique brick paving typical of the Roman era. The forum was the main square. It acted as a meeting place for residents and was surrounded by public and religious buildings.

Not far from the forum is a 3,500-seat Greek-style theater that sits on the natural inclination of the hill. In and around the theatre excavators found many precious artifacts including marble statues and columns. You can admire them in the museum located within the park. On the grounds, you’ll also see parts of the aqueducts, thermal baths, and even the remains of the only Roman amphitheater in Calabria.

The Scolacium Archaeological Museum

Next to the Roman ruins is the museum. At the entrance of the museum is a large touchscreen that gives you the opportunity to explore the entire Archaeological Park through its interactive map. The museum has a really great layout with different rooms showcasing everything from Prehistoric Artifacts to impressive marble statues.

There were two interesting pieces that immediately stood out to me. The first being a colossal bronze forearm. Based on the dimensions of the forearm (81 cm), it is safe to say that the statue it originated from would have been bigger than the Bronzi di Riace on display in Reggio Calabria.

The second artifact can be found in the room that showcases an extensive collection of intricate marble sculptures that were once part of the theatre. There is one in particular of a woman in a toga slightly lifting one side of the toga to expose part of her leg. Even though the pose of this statue was slightly different than the others, that wasn’t what captured my attention. As you make your way closer, you can’t help but notice it is covered in scratch marks.

Where did they come from? Some say it was from the farmers digging up the land, others say wild boars looking for food. Regardless, it is something I’ve never seen before!

The Basilica Santa Maria della Roccella

The remains of the Basilica welcome you to the Archaeological Park. The church is almost completely surrounded by rows upon rows of lush olive trees. The architecture of this church is typical for Southern Italy, it has elements that are both Romanesque and Norman. This is because parts of the buildings from the Roman colony were used – most notably for the upper part of the walls.

Walking along the path to the church, you can only imagine how big it must have been.  I was so mesmerized by the tones and colours of the Basilica of Santa Maria della Roccella. They created such an incredibly beautiful contrast with the olive grove that hugs it.

The Frantoio (Olive Mill) Museum

A trip to Scolacium wouldn’t be complete without stopping by the small museum dedicated to the Mazza family Olive Mill that once operated on these grounds. In one large room, you’ll see the antique millstones that were used for pressing the olives. There are also various other tools used in the making of this precious oil that was, and still is, an essential part of Mediterranean cuisine.

Park Admission and Hours of Operation:

Admission:
3,00 €

Hours of Operation:
Park:
Open every day from 8:00 am to one hour before sunset.

Museum:
Summer Hours: 3:30pm to 7:00pm
Winter Hours: 9:00am to 1:00pm
Monday CLOSED

If you love visiting ancient ruins and archaeological sites, you should check out my blog post on another very important historical site called Capo Colonna.

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