Map of Italy showing Reggio Calabria in the south

Reggio Calabria, located on the toe of the Italian boot, is the capital of the province of Reggio Calabria. It was the capital of the southern region of Calabria until 1970 when this became Catanzaro. It has about 180,000 inhabitants, and faces the sea on the other side of which lies the Sicilian city of Messina. The two cities are closely connected, being 20 minutes apart by ferry.

Founded as Rhegion by Greek settlers in the 8th century BC, the city was devastated by several major earthquakes and associated tsunami, the last of which happened on December 28, 1908.

Reggio Calabria was the hometown of Gianni Versace, and his family were tailors in Reggio Calabria.