From Magna Graecia to Reggio’s future: making archaeological heritage a

Reggio and Magna Graecia: archaeological heritage as a strategic asset

Reggio Calabria holds an extensive and layered archaeological heritage. Recent tourist growth highlights the need to convert dispersed sites into an integrated cultural system that is accessible and recognisable. Archaeological surveys record dozens of areas and hundreds of sites that document the city’s Greek and Roman past.

Many discoveries remain fragmented or hidden within the modern urban fabric. Turning this heritage into a resource requires a clear strategy to network sites, enhance visitor experience and connect routes to the National Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia.

Practical actions for effective enhancement

• Integrated planning: design an urban archaeological itinerary linking key sites with thematic stops and coherent routes.
• Museum connection: establish direct links between excavation sites and the National Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia, with combined tickets and joint visits.
• Accessibility and signage: implement pedestrian routes, modern information panels and consistent wayfinding to guide visitors.
• Digital tools: develop apps, 3D reconstructions, augmented reality and multimedia content to explain stratigraphy and engage the public.
• Services and mobility: provide tourist shuttles or open-top buses, permanent guided routes and information points for less central areas.
• Promotion: run international campaigns focused on the Magna Graecia identity and Mediterranean cultural tourism.

These measures would improve visitor experience and convert archaeological heritage into an engine for economic development, local employment and civic identity. A coordinated plan can offer residents and tourists a continuous reading of Reggio’s history, bringing visibility back to sites now submerged in the modern city.

Visitor advice: follow thematic routes, consult the National Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia for combined visits, and check for guided tours or shuttle services to reach peripheral sites.