BASIC PRESENTATION

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VALLI CUPE

SCOLACIUM

CODEX PURPUREUM

Floriana Cristofaro

Scolacium is the city of Cassiodorus, also called Scylletium, Minervium and Colonia Minervi: is an ancient coastal city of Bruzio. It was known by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Saracens and Normans. The ruins are located on the Ionian coast in the Gulf of Squillace in Roccelletta di Borgia (CZ).

DECUMANUS MAXIMUS: the main road

SCOLACIUM

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legend

The site is surrounded by centuries-old olive trees

• Mausoleum

In the site are located:

• Aqueducts

The area was part of estates of the barons Mazza and Massara di Borgia, owners of a company for the production of oil (still present the oil mill).

• Paved Streets

today the cathedral hosts performances

THeatre

the norman cathedral was built as a church but is a public legal administrative building

The codex, also known as the "Rossanesis", is one of the seven extant Eastern illuminated codes

CODEX PURPUREUM

The Codex Purpureus Rossanensis is a 6th-century Greek manuscript, preserved at Rossano in the Diocesan Museum

It presents the texts of the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, and a series of miniatures.

It's called "Purpureus" because its pages are red (By latin "purpureus"): the purplish red color is rare, made possible by the immersion of the sheets in a purple-red substance extracted from particular molluscs.

The manuscript contains texts written in gold and silver and is covered with 14 miniatures, which illustrate the most significant moments in the life and preaching of Jesus

It was found in 1879 inside the sacristy of the Cathedral of Maria Santissima Achiropita di Rossano by Adolf von Harnack and published soon after by Oscar von Gebhardt

It is a protected nature reserve divided into 3 areas: Gole Valli Cupe-Monte Raga (Sersale), Crocchio (Zagarise) and Campanaro.

VALLI CUPE

Morphology: huge gorge that has been carved by a river that joins the valley under mount. The gorge was formed by a river that carved it into the ground.

The streams create numerous jumps between the rocks prevalence of metamorphic rocks like pink granite

The Canyon of Valli Cupe has a rare formation, unique in Italy for geomorphological characteristics and it's inrich by plant species of rare beauty. It's a wonder of nature: a natural corridor in which light is hidden, arousing intense feels.

The Cascade of Hell is nestled in a narrow gorge with a very deep pool. This name is linked to the ancient popular belief, widespread especially among shepherds but not verified in reality, that it is a puddle more than 100 meters deep (up to Hell, in fact).

Going along the course of the stream towards the valley, along a path partly carved into the rock, you reach the Salice waterfall, which takes its name from a very old specimen of white willow which allows you to reach a basin of water where the Italic frog lives.

• waterfalls immersed in uncontaminated places
• the canyons, produced by erosive phenomena

• floristic and faunal heritage of the highest value
• Rich vegetation
• Cool climate, great for hiking

It is said that a rich treasure is kept under the imposing rock, inside a terracotta vase that is called pignata (mythological treasure), according to which around the gorge it may happen to meet a hen with a brood of golden chicks.