Pentedattilo and Bova in one day: guide to the Grecanica Area

Pentedattilo and Bova can be visited in one day starting from Reggio Calabria: the first is about 33 km away, the second about 54 km, and between the two there are 30 km of road. Pentedattilo is the abandoned village at the foot of the hand-shaped cliff, a hamlet of Melito di Porto Salvo. Bova is the mountain village considered the cultural capital of Greek Calabria, where Calabrian Greek is preserved, a language protected by law 482 of 1999.

In this guide you will find distances, history, what to see and how to fit the two villages together on the same day, with the data verified as of October 5, 2026.

Where are Pentedattilo and Bova and how far are they from Reggio Calabria

The two villages are on the Ionian side of the province, south-east of Reggio, in the area called Area Grecanica or Bovesìa. Calculating the road route from Piazza Indipendenza:

Reggio Calabria, Pentedattilo: about 33 km, about forty minutes by car.
Reggio Calabria, Bova: about 54 km, around an hour's drive.
Pentedattilo, Bova: about 30 km, three quarters of an hour due to the uphill curves.

The Ionian railway stops in Melito di Porto Salvo and Bova Marina, on the coast. To go up to the two villages, however, you need a means of transport: your own car, taxi or an excursion with transport included.

Pentedattilo, the village under the five-fingered cliff

Why it's called Pentedattilo

The name comes from the Greek pènta-dàktylos, five fingers. The houses are built against Mount Calvary, a sandstone cliff with five points that resembles a giant hand. Edward Lear drew it in 1847; M. C. Escher stayed there in the spring of 1930 and made a series of engravings from it.

The Alberti massacre of 1686

On the night of April 16, 1686, Baron Bernardino Abenavoli entered the Alberti castle with armed men and killed Marquis Lorenzo Alberti. The massacre affected almost the entire family, including Simone, a 9-year-old boy. Abenavoli, Baron of Montebello, wanted to marry Antonietta Alberti against the will of his parents and forced her to marry. Seven executors were beheaded; Bernardino escaped and died in battle in 1692.

Abandonment and return

The earthquake of 1783 started emigration to the coast of Melito di Porto Salvo. In 1811 Pentedattilo lost its municipal autonomy and passed to Melito. The village was declared uninhabitable in 1968 and completely emptied in 1971. Since the early eighties, groups of European volunteers have started the recovery of some houses; today in the village you will find the church of Saints Peter and Paul and some artisan shops, open especially in summer.

The Pentedattilo Film Festival

The Pentedattilo Film Festival, an international short film festival organized by Ram Film, takes place in the village. The most recent documented edition is the fourteenth, in 2022: over 120 short films in competition in seven sections, chosen from more than 500 proposals from 56 countries.

Bova, cultural capital of Greek Calabria

Bova is a municipality of about 450 inhabitants (ISTAT, 2024), at over 800 meters above sea level in the Aspromonte National Park, and is part of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The street plaques are written in Italian and Calabrian Greek. At the entrance to the village you will find the FS 740 steam locomotive, exhibited as a monument.

Things to see in Bova

The Co-Cathedral of the Madonna dell'Isodia (or of the Presentation): Bova was a bishopric as early as the fifth century and maintained the Greek rite until 1572.
The ruins of the Norman castle, in the upper part of the town.
The church of San Leo, from the seventeenth century, with the statue of the saint attributed to Pietro Bernini.
The Path of Peasant Civilization, an open-air museum on the peasant culture of the town.

The Park Visitor Center at Palazzo Tuscano

The Visitor Center of the Aspromonte National Park is in Palazzo Tuscano, an ancient noble residence in Via Dante. The exhibition occupies three floors and is dedicated to Greek culture: language, history, music, craftsmanship and cuisine, with fifteen historical photographs taken by Gerhard Rohlfs. Inside there is the Mosino library, with about 5,000 volumes on the culture of the Greeks of Calabria. The center opens on weekdays from 8 to 13 (telephone 0965 762091).

The Gerhard Rohlfs Museum of the Greek-Calabrian Language

The museum, in Via Sant'Antonio, opened in 2016 and is dedicated to the German linguist who was the first to systematically study Calabrian Greek. Six rooms with photos, documents and audiovisual installations. Hours indicated by the Italia.it portal: Monday to Friday 16-19; Saturday and Sunday 9-13 and 15-19.

How many people still speak Calabrian Greek

There are now only a few dozen native speakers, almost all over the age of eighty, according to the study by linguist Annamaria Chilà published in 2022. At the end of the nineties, researcher Marianna Katsoyannou counted less than 500 (data published in 2001). Chilà speaks of a language in the process of extinction, supported by a few dozen semi-speakers who learned modern Greek with the revival courses of the eighties.

Native speakers live mainly in Gallicianò (a hamlet of Condofuri), Condofuri and Roghudi Nuovo. The recognized Hellenic-speaking area includes Bova, Bova Marina, Palizzi, Roccaforte del Greco, Gallicianò and Roghudi. The language is called Greko by speakers and Grecanico in Italian.

There are two theories about the origin. Gerhard Rohlfs traced it back to Magna Graecia, due to the similarities with ancient Greek. Giuseppe Morosi linked it to the migrations of the Byzantine era, between the ninth and eleventh centuries.

What Law 482 of 1999 provides

Law No. 482 of 15 December 1999 protects the language and culture of twelve historical linguistic minorities, including the Greek populations. In municipalities where it applies, the minority language can be used in schools as a teaching tool and in municipal councils, and municipalities can adopt traditional local toponyms alongside official ones.

How to organize Pentedattilo and Bova in one day

The most convenient order is Pentedattilo in the morning and Bova from lunch onwards, because Pentedattilo is closer to Reggio. A possible scheme:

Departure from Reggio in the morning, along the Ionian coast towards Melito di Porto Salvo.
Pentedattilo: an hour and a half or two to climb between the houses, the church and the viewpoints under the cliff.
Transfer to Bova, about 45 minutes between coast and ascent.
Lunch in Bova and afternoon between the Co-cathedral, castle and museum.
Return to Reggio in about an hour.

Take into account the timetables: if you are interested in the Palazzo Tuscano Visitor Center you must arrive in Bova by 1 pm on a weekday; the Rohlfs museum on weekdays opens only from 4 pm.

Pentedattilo, Bova or both: which Athena ETC experience to choose

Athena ETC offers three experiences in the area, all departing from Piazza Indipendenza in Reggio Calabria and round-trip transport included. In all three there is a guide for the entire excursion; the professional tour guide is not included. Languages: Italian and English.

Pentedattilo, the ghost village: 4 hours, from €60 per person (€48 for children up to 12 years), 25% discount from 6 people. It includes free time in the village and access to the artisan shops. It is suitable for those who have half a day, families with children and those who want to return to Reggio for lunch or the afternoon.
Bova, capital of Calabria Grecanica: 5 and a half hours, from 85 € per person (68 € for children up to 12 years old), with a typical lunch in a local restaurant. It is suitable for those interested in the Greek language and culture and want a mountain lunch without driving.
Pentedattilo & Bova, the secret villages of Aspromonte: about 8 hours, from €100 per person (€80 for children up to 12 years old), typical lunch included. It provides an Early Bird discount of 15% by booking 90 days in advance and a progressive discount of 4% per person up to 32%. It is suitable for those who have a full day and want to see both villages with a single transfer.

The three cards indicate easy difficulty.

How to book with Athena ETC

Athena ETC services are reserved for members: registration is done online from the Join us page. The experiences are on request: choose the date, indicate how many people you are and receive confirmation. You can start from the Pentedattilo & Bova page or from those of the individual villages. For groups and questions, write to info@athenaetc.com or call +39 379 14 92 736.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pentedattilo, Bova and the Grecanica Area

How far is it from Pentedattilo to Reggio Calabria?

About 33 km from Piazza Indipendenza, about forty minutes by car along the Ionian coast. Pentedattilo is a hamlet of the municipality of Melito di Porto Salvo.

How far is it from Bova to Reggio Calabria?

About 54 km, around an hour's drive. Bova is about 12 km by mountain road from Bova Marina, where the Ionian railway stops.

Can you visit Pentedattilo and Bova on the same day?

Yes. Between the two villages there are about 30 km, three quarters of an hour by car. The combined experience of Athena ETC lasts about 8 hours, including lunch.

What happened to Pentedattilo in 1686?

On the night of April 16, 1686, Baron Bernardino Abenavoli killed Marquis Lorenzo Alberti and most of his family, to marry Antonietta Alberti. It is remembered as the massacre of the Alberti.

Why is Pentedattilo uninhabited?

After the earthquake of 1783 the population descended towards Melito di Porto Salvo. The village was declared uninhabitable in 1968 and completely abandoned in 1971; since the eighties some houses have been recovered.

How many people speak Calabrian Greek?

According to the study by Annamaria Chilà (2022), there are only a few dozen native speakers, mostly over 80 years old, in Gallicianò, Condofuri and Roghudi Nuovo. At the end of the nineties there were estimated to be less than 500.

What law protects the Greek of Calabria?

Law no. 482 of 15 December 1999, which protects twelve historical linguistic minorities in Italy, including the Greek one.

When is the Park Visitor Center in Bova open?

On weekdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Palazzo Tuscano in Via Dante. It houses the Mosino library, with about 5,000 volumes on Greek culture.

Does the Athena ETC experience include a tour guide?

No. The three experiences include round-trip transportation from Piazza Indipendenza and a tour leader; professional tour guide is excluded.