Ricadi
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Ricadi () is a small rural town, as well as a municipality, located along the Tyrrhenian coast, in the
province of Vibo Valentia The province of Vibo Valentia (; Vibonese: ) is a province in the Calabria region of Italy, set up by a national law of 6 March 1992, which came into effect on 1 January 1996, and formerly part of the province of Catanzaro. Its capital is the ...
, in the
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
region of
Calabria Calabria is a Regions of Italy, region in Southern Italy. It is a peninsula bordered by the region Basilicata to the north, the Ionian Sea to the east, the Strait of Messina to the southwest, which separates it from Sicily, and the Tyrrhenian S ...
.


Geography


Boundaries

The municipality of Ricadi is located between the gulfs of Lamezia Terme and Gioia Tauro. Capo Vaticano lies between these two gulfs. The
Tyrrhenian Sea The Tyrrhenian Sea (, ; or ) , , , , is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy. It is named for the Tyrrhenians, Tyrrhenian people identified with the Etruscans of Italy. Geography The sea is bounded by the islands of C ...
touches Ricadi to the west. The municipality has about of coasts.


Winds

The following winds blow along the coast of Ricadi: * the
Sirocco Sirocco ( ) or scirocco is a Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara and can reach hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe, especially during the summer season. Names ''Sirocco'' derives from '' šurūq'' (), verbal noun o ...
, a hot, dry wind originating in the Sahara desert (it blows from the South-East); * the Libeccio, a humid westerly wind which frequently makes the sea rough and may form violent westerly squalls. * the Mistral, a dry cold northerly wind which blows in winter.


History

The origins of Ricadi are unknown. According to legend, it was probably founded at the time of the Saracen invasions, during or after the 10th century. By this time, the Saracens had settled around Rombiolo. Ricadi appears to have been almost reduced to rubble by the earthquake which struck towards the end of the 18th century, it was also heavily damaged by the one which struck at the beginning of the 20th century. The place-name 'Ricade' or 'Rigade' appeared for the first time in the 16th and 17th centuries, and suggests a derivation from the surname 'Riga' or 'Rigà', which was quite surname in Calabria. Over the centuries Ricadi has been populated by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Normans: they built and blasted road and defensive infrastructures (roads, bridges, towers defending coasts and rivers). Many archaeological discoveries are still visible; others are well protected, being houses in the National Museum of
Reggio Calabria Reggio di Calabria (; ), commonly and officially referred to as Reggio Calabria, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, is the List of cities in Italy, largest city in Calabria as well as the seat of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. As ...
. For a time, Ricadi was ancillary to the town of Tropea. In 1799 the Ricadesi obtained their independence thanks to Championnet, a French general who conquered the Kingdom of Naples (which Ricadi was formerly part of). Ricadi became a municipality of the Monteleone district (now Vibo Valentia), belonging to Calabria Ulteriore, because of a rule set in 1811. Before becoming one of the main tourist destinations of the lower Tyrrhennian Sea, Grotticelle was populated by people who lived on agriculture and fishing. By the mid '80s, this place became one of the main economic driving force of the overall economy of Ricadi. Thanks to tourism, over the past decades, incomes and living standards have increasingly improved for local inhabitants (according to some, the per capita income of the little town is one of the highest in
Calabria Calabria is a Regions of Italy, region in Southern Italy. It is a peninsula bordered by the region Basilicata to the north, the Ionian Sea to the east, the Strait of Messina to the southwest, which separates it from Sicily, and the Tyrrhenian S ...
). Near Grotticelle hundreds of tourist structures have been built: these include camping-sites, tourist villages located near the sea, 2 to 5 star hotels, residences and farm holidays located in the hills.


Demographics


Culture

"The Farming Museum" (), opened to the public in May 1992. The collection, made up by near to 500 finds, shows variety rudimentary farming machinery, tools to process local crops such as flax and broom fibre, and terracotta ware. Housed by the Giuseppe Berto Conference Centre, the collection is on permanent display.


Events

* "Giuseppe Berto Literary Prize" (). The writer Giuseppe Berto was born in Mogliano Veneto, but made Capo Vaticano his second home. The Prize is awarded every June, in Ricadi and Mogliano Veneto on alternative years. The 2003 edition marked a turning point, since the prize was divided into two separate categories: the historical one to be awarded to an emerging writer, and a new category focusing on foreign fiction. The latter prize is awarded to a living author whose work has been published in Italian. * "Capo Vaticano Sporting Prize" (), every year in September. Established in 1987, the Capo Vaticano Sporting Prize has the objective of recognizing and promoting the educational value of football, as well as uniting all those who are fond of Calabria. It is awarded to Italian referees, footballers and journalists of regional and national renown. * "Red Onion Festival" (), every year on 13 August. The festival starts in the mid-afternoon with a variety of games are played in Piazza Marconi, the main square of the village: The traditional Pignàta Tournament in which the contestants are blindfolded and, helped by bystanders, use a long wooden stick to break one or more , or terra-cotta pots, which are suspended from a string. Pignàtas are sometimes filled with water. The ""Bumbuleju" Race is for women of all ages. Contestants race from one end of the square to the other, carrying the terra-cotta pot on their heads without using their hands. Other games include the Egg Race, the Sack Race, the Mini-marathon, the Onion Race, the Cheese-rolling tournament; Typical onion-dish sampling starts at dinner time. At exactly midnight the dance is performed. The traditional fireworks display closes the festival. * "Ice-Cream Festival": each summer, in July.


Festivities

* Religious Festivities are solemnized in honor of Saint Zaccaria (the Patron Saint – on 5 November); Saint Biagio (on 3 February), Saint Antonio from Padua (on 13 June); Saint Domenica (on 6 July); Virgin Mary of Graces (on 15 August).


Associations

* "Friends of Giuseppe Berto" (the panel of judges for the literary prize) * "Noi di Ricadi" (people from Ricadi – editorial staff of Terra Nostra newspaper)


Economy


Agriculture

''Cipolla Rossa di Tropea'', famous red onions from Tropea, are grown all along the coast. They are then processed and shipped throughout Italy, northern Europe, and elsewhere. In addition, vegetables, citruses (oranges, lemons, bergamots) and ‘nduja, a salami made from seasoned pork and red hot pepper, are produced;


Fishing

Flatfish, tuna, bass, dentex, sea bream, conger, mullet, moray, polypus.


Tourism

The three bays of Grotticelle ("little caves") are the most famous and most evocative bathing places of the municipality of Ricadi, in
Calabria Calabria is a Regions of Italy, region in Southern Italy. It is a peninsula bordered by the region Basilicata to the north, the Ionian Sea to the east, the Strait of Messina to the southwest, which separates it from Sicily, and the Tyrrhenian S ...
and they are linked with Capo Vaticano (Cape Vatican). Smaller, more remote and evocative beaches can be reached from Grotticelle.


Twin towns

* Mogliano Veneto, Italy


References


External links


News on Ricadi
{{Province of Vibo Valentia Municipalities of the Province of Vibo Valentia