Bova Marina
Encyclopedia
Bova Marina is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria
in the Italian
region Calabria
, located about 120 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 30 km southeast of Reggio Calabria
. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,870 and an area of 29.5 km².
The municipality of Bova Marina contains the frazioni
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Mesofugna , Amigdalà , Borgo, Centro, Costa dei Saraceni, Apambero , and San Pasquale.
Bova Marina borders the following municipalities: Bova, Condofuri
, Palizzi
.
As evidenced by the above Greek place names, Bova Marina is one of the places where is still spoken the Greek–Calabrian dialect - remnant of the ancient Greek coloniaztion of Magna Graecia
, i.e. South Italy and Sicily.
In 1983, during excavations for roadwork, the ruins of the Bova Marina Synagogue
were discovered in Bova Marina. This is the second oldest confirmed site of a synagogue in Italy, the oldest being the ancient synagogue of Ostia Antica
near Rome
. Parts of the ancient mosaic
floor are still intact, which display ancient Jewish
symbols, such as the menorah and Solomon's knot
.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria
Province of Reggio Calabria
The Province of Reggio Calabria is a province in the Calabria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Reggio., it has an area of 3,183 km², and a total population of 565,866. There are 97 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Reggio Calabria.- Economy :The region is...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
, located about 120 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 30 km southeast of Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,870 and an area of 29.5 km².
The municipality of Bova Marina contains the frazioni
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Mesofugna , Amigdalà , Borgo, Centro, Costa dei Saraceni, Apambero , and San Pasquale.
Bova Marina borders the following municipalities: Bova, Condofuri
Condofuri
Condofuri is a comune in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about 120 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 38 km southeast of Reggio Calabria....
, Palizzi
Palizzi
Palizzi is a comune in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about 120 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 30 km southeast of Reggio Calabria...
.
As evidenced by the above Greek place names, Bova Marina is one of the places where is still spoken the Greek–Calabrian dialect - remnant of the ancient Greek coloniaztion of Magna Graecia
Magna Graecia
Magna Græcia is the name of the coastal areas of Southern Italy on the Tarentine Gulf that were extensively colonized by Greek settlers; particularly the Achaean colonies of Tarentum, Crotone, and Sybaris, but also, more loosely, the cities of Cumae and Neapolis to the north...
, i.e. South Italy and Sicily.
In 1983, during excavations for roadwork, the ruins of the Bova Marina Synagogue
Bova Marina Synagogue
The Bova Marina Synagogue is the second oldest synagogue uncovered in Italy and one the oldest in Europe.The synagogue is located in Bova Marina, Calabria. Bova Marina means, "by the sea", in Italian. Only the Ostia Synagogue is older. The remains of the Bova Marina synagogue were unearthed in 1983...
were discovered in Bova Marina. This is the second oldest confirmed site of a synagogue in Italy, the oldest being the ancient synagogue of Ostia Antica
Ostia Synagogue
The Ostia Synagogue is an ancient synagogue located in ancient Ostia Antica, the seaport of Imperial Rome. It is one of the oldest synagogues in the world, the oldest synagogue in Europe and the oldest mainstream Jewish synagogue yet uncovered outside of Israel...
near Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Parts of the ancient mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
floor are still intact, which display ancient Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
symbols, such as the menorah and Solomon's knot
Solomon's knot
Solomon's knot is the most common name for a traditional decorative motif used since ancient times, and found in many cultures...
.
External links
- www.comune.bovamarina.rc.it/
- New York Times article about the discovery of the Bova Marina synagogue