Vallata dello Stilaro

The Ecomuseo delle ferriere e fonderie di Calabria, preserves and promotes the natural, artistic and cultural things of the place.

The first evidence of settlements in the valley come from the ancient Greeks between the 8th and 7th centuries BC where along the coast, near the Assi river, the established the little colony of Caulonia, estimated to have included 10,000 people.

After that, the region was conquered by Romans, who largely mined copper and created a colonial penalty for "damnata ad metalla" and deforesting the valley for wood and shipbuilding.

In the 10th century under the Byzantine empire, there was economic and demographic growth and 22 calasi (little villages) with 37 convents, churches, and hermit caves were established by the Greek monks of Saint Basilio.

The "Casale of Stilo" grew in importance and incorporated Pazzano, Stignano, Guardavalle, Riace and Camini "casalia".