Cæsarea to Rome: "And from thence | only reflected from the surface of the we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli." The bay of Reggio is remarkable for the optical phenomenon called the Fata Morgana, which occurs only at high tides, when the most perfect calm of sea and air prevails; it is extremely evanescent, and is usually seen about sunrise, but is of rare occurrence. The Fata Morgana is of three kinds-marine, aerial, and prismatic: it presents in the air, and also on the still surface of the sea, images of real objects on the coast, which are reflected and multiplied with extraordinary precision. It is similar to that so frequently seen on the coasts of Antrim and Donegal, especially near the entrance of Lough Foyle, in Ireland. The best description of this phenomenon is that given by the Dominican monk Minasi in the last centy., who had seen it three times in its most perfect state: "When the rising sun shines from that point whence its incident ray forms an angle of about 45° on the sea of Reggio, and the bright surface of the water in the bay is not disturbed either by the wind or the current, the spectator being placed on an eminence of the city, with his back to the sun and his face to the sea, on a sudden he sees appear in the water, as in a catoptric theatre, various multiplied objects, i.e. numberless series of pilasters, arches, castles well delineated, regular columns, lofty towers, superb palaces with balconies and windows, extended alleys of trees, delightful plains with herds and flocks, &c., all in their natural colours and proper action, and passing rapidly in succession along the surface of the sea, during the whole period of time that the above-mentioned causes remain. But if, in addition to the circumstances before described, the atmosphere be highly impregnated with vapour and exhalations not dispersed by the wind nor rarefied by the sun, it then happens that in this vapour, as in a curtain extended along the channel to the height of about 30 palms, and nearly down to the sea, the observer will behold the scene of the same objects not sea, but likewise in the air, though not in so distinct and defined a manner as in the sea. And again, if the air be slightly hazy and opaque, and at the same time dewy and adapted to form the iris, then the objects will appear only at the surface of the sea, but they will be all vividly coloured or fringed with red, green, blue, and the other prismatic colours." In addition to this we may remark that the mirage is frequently seen in great perfection on both sides of this strait, and in many cases no doubt it has been taken for the Morgana. Many of the effects are difficult of explanation; but the most obvious appearances are referable to an unusual calmness of the sea and to the different refractive and consequently reflective powers of the superincumbent strata of air. The similarity of the geological formations on both sides of the Faro may afford some confirmation to the statement of many ancient writers that the name Rhegium ('Páy,o», from pnyvów, to break) referred to the convulsion which separated Sicily from the mainland: Hæc loca, vi quondam et vasta convulsa ruina, Tantum ævi longinqua valet mutare vetustas! The distance from the Cathedral of Reggio to the Lighthouse of Messina is 13,187 yards. The Peirano-Danovaro Company's steamers call here every Thursday on their way round the coast to Ancona, and every Saturday on their way back to Naples, and steamers twice a day to Messina. Reggio is backed eastward by the imposing group of the Aspromonte, whose highest peak, Montalto, is 4380 ft. high. Its lower flanks are clothed with forests of beech and oak, and its higher regions with pines. The ascent is best made from Villa S. Giovanni. For the rly. from Reggio along the E. coast to Taranto and Bari, see Rte. 156. For several years the country traversed by the present route was very unsafe, owing to bands of brigands, who found an easy refuge in the adjoining mountains. At present, however, the completion of the railway enables tourists to visit it with comparative safety; but they must, of course, be prepared to rough it. As the railway follows the shore, and most of the stations are at a considerable distance from the villages after which they are named, and either afford no accommodation, or only an indifferent tavern, the tourist will do well to provide himself with letters of introduction to some of the local gentry, and, at all events, take at Taranto a basket with provisions and wine. The best plan for persons intending to devote some weeks to Calabria, and visit the numerous sites memorable for their classical associations which lie along its E. coast, will be to proceed to Taranto by railway, visiting the Apulian towns on the way. From thence the tourist should follow the railway along the shore, or he can vary the rly. journey by taking advantage of the Peirano Danavaro Co.'s steamers running once a week between Ancona and Reggio, and which, after leaving Tarentum, hug the Calabrian coast, calling at Rossano, Cotrone, and Catanzaro; but he should make careful inquiry as to the days and hours of sailing, which vary from time to time. From Reggio the traveller may return through Monteleone, Cosenza, and Potenza to Naples, making excursions to places of interest which lie at a short distance from his main line of route. Or, from Reggio, the tourist may cross to Sicily, or take the mail-steamer to Naples. The months of April and May should be chosen for the journey, as there is a good deal of malaria along the coast in summer. Travellers on their way to Brindisi, who have only three or four days to spare, by taking the branch railway line at Bari, will be able to see Taranto, visit the remains of Metapontum, and from Taranto drive across, by a good road through Francavilla or Manduria, to Brindisi, 44 m.; or return by rail through Bari to Brindisi, 8 hours. On leaving Taranto, at the 2nd kil., the railway branches off to the 1. from the line to Bari, and proceeds along the shore, through a sandbank covered with junipers and tamarinds, and bordered on the right by undulating grounds clothed with dwarf pine forests. On the right are seen the towns of Massafra, Palaggiano, and Castellaneta (Rte. 149), and in the distance the mountains of Basilicata and Calabria. We cross near their mouths the Patemisco and the Lato, two small streams, and reach 25 kil. Ginosa Stat. The town (6950 Inhab.), the ancient Genusium, is 7 m. off, on a hill on the W. Soon after leaving the station, the line crosses the Bradano, the ancient Bradanus, which formed the boundary between the territories of Tarentum and Metapontum, as it does now of the provinces of Terra d'Otranto and Basilicata. The tract between the Lato and the Bradano is covered by the pineforests of La Rita on rt., and of Termitosa on 1., extending to the seashore. The banks of the Bradano, where the line crosses it, are clothed with pines. 9 kil. Torremare Junct. Stat. (At the small Inn wine may be obtained). [Rly. in progress W. to Naples through Potenza, completed as far as Calciano, two trains daily in 2 to 3 hrs.] There is here a square tower of the middle ages, 6 m. from Bernalde, in the plain between the Bradanus and the Casuen- | chief source of the opulence of Metatus, the modern Basento, where stood METAPONTUM, one of the most powerful colonies of Magna Græcia, founded, according to Strabo, by a body of those Pylians who had followed Nestor to Troy, or, according to Justin, by Epeos, the builder of the Trojan horse. It subsequently received an Achæan colony from Sybaris and Crotona. pontum. Beyond the Basente the rly. runs more inland to 8 kil. S. Basilio Pisticci Stat., a large farmhouse, about 8 m. from Pisticci (7737 Inhab.), on a hill on the rt. The line then crosses the Salandrella, supposed to be the ancient Acalandrus, and reaches 8 kil. Scanzano Montalbano Stat., at a distance from the towns (6225 Inhab.) of those names on the hills. Thence it descends through a tract of underwood and dwarf oaks to the Agri (Aciris), which it crosses about 2 m. from its mouth, and reaches 5 kil. Policoro Stat. Policoro, prettily situated on the rt. bank of the river, was once fief of the Jesuits, but is now a farm of the Count of Monte Santangelo, of the Gerace family, where travellers are frequently received. From the heights above the house there is an extensive When Alexander King of Epirus crossed over into Italy B.C. 332, the Metapontines joined him, and after his defeat and death at Pandosia B.C. 326, his bones were sent to Metapontum, whence they were conveyed to Epirus. After the battle of Cannæ, Metapontum declared in favour of Hannibal, but when the battle of the Metaurus, B.C. 207, compelled him to withdraw his forces from this part of Italy, he removed all the inhabitants from Metapontum to save them from the vengeance of Rome. Metapontum never recovered from this blow, and in the view of the mountains of Basilicata and time of Pausanias it was a heap of the coast-line of Calabria. The forests ruins. The house of Pythagoras, who abound in wild boar. The country bordied here B.C. 497, is recorded to have dering this part of the coast is celebrated been converted at his death into a for its liquorice-root, from which large temple of Ceres. The remains now quantities of liquorice-juice are exexisting are those of a Doric temple tracted for exportation to England and the United States. At Policoro, the on a slight elevation near the rt. bank of the Bradano, 23 m. N. from Torrea- tourist will have an opportunity of mare, and known by the local name of seeing its preparation on a large scale. Tavola de' Paladini, of which 15 fluted A few years ago a large bronze vessel columns, with their architrave, are stand-was dug up at Policoro, containing many ing; there are some ruins, supposed to be of another temple, at La Chiesa di Sansone, hr. further S., close to the rly. and nearer Torremare. The small salt-water lagoon, 1 m. from it, was probably the ancient port of Metapontum. The ruins of Metapontum may now be easily visited in the day from Taranto, by taking the train to Torrea mare, whence to Torre de' Paladini is a walk of about 2 m. If a conveyance is wanted, a telegram [should be sent, the day before, to the station-master at Torreamare, who will get one ready. A horse may be had for 3 francs. The tourist should take a basket with provisions. The plain along the coast is still very productive in corn, which formed the silver medals of archaic type. These coins and bronzes render it more than probable that Policoro marks the site of HERACLEIA, a joint colony of the Thurians and Tarentines, B.C. 432, the place of meeting of the general assembly of the Italian Greeks, and the birthplace of the painter Zeuxis. The plain between Heracleia and the Siris was the scene of the first battle fought by Pyrrhus against the Romans under the consul Lævinus, B.C. 280, who attributed their defeat to the terror inspired by the elephants of Pyrrhus. bronze tables, now in the Museo Nazionale, known as the Heraclean Tables (p. 150), were found at Luce near this place in 1753. The 3 m. S. of Policoro a dense forest marks the course of the Sinno, the Siris of the Greeks. The railway traverses it, after crossing the river. This forest scenery gives to the country a character of beauty and luxuriance which perfectly accords with the enthusiastic descriptions of the Greek poets. The underwood consists of myrtle, arbutus, the lentiscus, sweet bay, wild vine, the oleander, &c. On the 1. bank of the Sinno, the city of SIRIS, the rival of Metapontum and Sybaris, is supposed to have stood, but no trace of it is to be discovered. Beyond the river we reach 10 kil. Nova Siri Stat. (1978 Inhab.), and, after crossing the torrents Ruvero and Rucolo, and the little river Canna, which divides Basilicata from Calabria, we come to 4 kil. Rocca Imperiale Stat. 5 m. from the town (2164 Inhab.), on the summit of a conical hill; a mode of building prevalent on this coast, which affords some beautiful subjects for the pencil of the artist. Nucara (1177 Inhab.), on a hill 6 m. N.W. of Rocca Imperiale, is supposed to mark the site of Lagaria, founded by the Phocæans, and afterwards colonised by the Thurians. It was celebrated for its sweet wines, which were highly prized, as Lagarina Vina. 7 kil. Monte Giordano Stat. (2019 Inhab.) 8 kil. Roseto Stat. On the 1. is Capo Spulico. On the rt. the village of Roseto, amid broken ravines, presents a very picturesque appearance. N. of the cape the Fiume di Ferro enters the sea. The line follows the shore, to 5 kil. Amendolara Stat., the village (1629 Inhab.) standing, like Rocca Imperiale and Roseto, upon an insulated rock. 9 kil. Trebisacce Stat., another village (1490 Inhab.) of a similar character. The line leaves the shore, and crosses the Seracino, to 10 kil. Torre Cerchiera Stat. (2963 Inhab.) Thence crossing the Satanasso, through a highly diversified country, leaving Casalnuovo on the rt. and Francavilla (1516 Inhab.), prettily placed above the valley of the Raganello. It reaches 5 kil. Buffaloria di Cassano Junct. Stat. [Rly. S.W., with stats. at Doria Cassano, Spezzano, Castrovillari, and Tarsia, to Majolungo, whence diligence to Frassia and Rly. on to Cosenza, in Rte. 155, see pp. 404 and 406.] There is also a road of 7 m. passing through Lauropoli, a hamlet founded by a Duchess of Cassano for the accommodation of the agricultural labourers on her estates, and leading to CASSANO (9035 Inhab.-Inn, tolerable), an episcopal city, situated on the Eiano, and supposed to be the Castellum Carissanum of Pliny, and the Cosa in agro Thurino of Cæsar. This is one of the most picturesque places in S. Italy, and is not only surrounded by beautiful scenery, but enjoys a climate which affords all the conveniences of life. It has hot sulphurous tion. The ruins of its feudal castle rise baths, which are in great local reputaabove it on the magnificent mass of The view from the castle is most exrock round which the city is built. tensive, commanding the rich scenery of the valleys of the Coscile and Crati. to have been the place from which the The picturesque Roman tower is said stone was thrown which killed T. Annius Milo, who was besieging the city in the cause of Pompey, and whose tion in his defence. It is still called name is better known by Cicero's oraTorre di Milo. The village of Civita, however, an Albanian colony, on the 1. of the road from Castrovillari, soon after passing Porcile, is considered by some to, mark the real site of Cosa, on account of some remains of ancient buildings near it. From Cassano the road proceeds S. to Spezzano Albanese (4348 Inhab.), on the post-road, from Naples. It contains a tolerable osteria. (There is a fair road (22 m.) from Spezzano to Rossano.) A good road (10 m.) leads from the fugitive Sybarites, 67 years after Cassano through Porcile and Frascineto to Castrovillari (Rte. 155). From Buffaloria di Cassano the railway follows the valley of the Coscile, the ancient Sybaris, which it crosses near its junction with the Crati, (Crathis.) The Sybaris was celebrated by the ancient poets for the power of making horses shy, and of rendering men who bathed in it vigorous; and the Crathis for flowing over golden sands, and for the property of giving a yellow colour to the hair of those who bathed in it: ̔Ο ξανθὰν χαίταν πυρσεύων Κράθις ζαθέαις πηγαῖσι τρέφων Εὐανδρόν τ' ὀλβιζῶν γᾶν.—Ευκ. Troad. The plain on our 1., near the junction of the two rivers, before we cross the Coscile, between Lauropoli, Doria, and the mouth of the Crati, was probably the site of the ancient Sybaris had been destroyed, with the support of a body of Athenian colonists the historian Herodotus and the orator sent out by Pericles, among whom were Lysias. Fresh colonists having poured in from all quarters of Greece, disputes arose between them and the Athenians, which were at length allayed in the declaring it to be a colony of Apollo. year 413 B.C. by the Delphic oracle Charondas subsequently endowed it with a constitution, and it became famous for its annals. It surrendered, B.C. 280, to the Romans, who, in B.C. 194, made it a colony under the name of Copia. The coins of Thurii are numerous, and of great beauty and variety. The railway crosses the Crati, and proceeds through a country abounding in oaks and olive-trees, to 15 kil. Corigliano Stat. 2 m. from SYBARIS, founded B.C. 720, by the Corigliano (10,572 Inhab.), on the road Achæans and Træzenians, on the river from Castrovillari to Rossano, beautiof the same name. Nothing now refully situated 4 m. from the shore, on mains which the classical tourist can a steep eminence in the form of an regard as a relic of that luxurious city; feudal castle commanding magnificent amphitheatre, surmounted by a fine Many antiquaries, however, have fixed its position on the plain which lies views. The base of the hill is covered between the Coscile and the Crati, which are the villas of the resident prowith orange and lemon-groves, among before they form their junction, about 5 m. from the sea; but, from the mode prietors. It is supplied with water by of its destruction, it is not likely that the an aqueduct which crosses the principal actual site of the city will ever be satis-able distance round the hill. It contains street, and may be traced for a considerfactorily determined. When Sybaris was in its full prosperity, it counted 25 towns upon this coast among its dependencies, and brought 300,000 men into the field in the war with the Crotoniats B.C. 510. Sybaris was taken by the Crotoniats, who entirely destroyed it by turning over the ruins the waters of the Crathis, which formerly ran at some distance from it. On the 1. bank of the Crati, about 7 m. inland from the supposed site of Sybaris, is Terra Nova (2605 Inhab.), near which, near a spot called Surrione, between it and Spezzano, where numerous coins have been found, on the W., are some ruins supposed to mark the of which the largest belongs to Baron several manufactories of liquorice-juice, Compagna, and is a depôt for the timber collected from La Sila. The mountains around it used to produce the finest manna in Calabria, but the collection of manna as a branch of industry has long since ceased, and Mr. D. Hanbury, in a paper read before the British Pharmaceutical Conference at Brighton in 1872, stated that during a journey through Calabria in the spring of that year he had been able and had been everywhere informed to procure only the smallest quantity, that the cultivation of the manna-trees (omelli) had quite ceased, and the tapping of the stem for manna been forTHURII, a city, founded B.C. 443, by bidden by the Government. The castle site of |