Holiday apartment in Camini: culture, tradition and special places

Camini combines sacred art, contemporary works, an old fountain, a traditional May custom, and courses in crafts and cooking. The townscape includes the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta, the Galleria studio d'arte 'Duçi Contemporanea', Funtana e susu, and Jungi Mundu.

Church, frescoes and contemporary art

The parish church of Santa Maria Assunta, dating from the 12th century, stands at the heart of the historic town centre. The ceiling frescoes of Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta are also a distinctive feature of the town's sacred history; they probably date from around 1200. The church and frescoes therefore lead back to an early historical period of Camini.

A contemporary contrast is provided by the Galleria studio d'arte 'Duçi Contemporanea'. Its permanent collection includes paintings by Chiara Scolastica Mosciatti and bronzes by Nelson Carrilho. The gallery opened in July 2023. Alongside sacred art, the focus is therefore on paintings and bronzes by contemporary artists.

An old fountain near the historic centre

Funtana e susu is an old fountain near a small forest and also a monument. It is located about five minutes from the historic centre of Camini and can be reached via Via Fontana behind the town hall. The approximate five-minute distance is useful when planning a walking tour of the town: Funtana e susu can be reached as a short detour from the historic centre via Via Fontana behind the town hall.

May tradition and the coast near contrada Ellera

The May celebration of San Nicola preserves an old supplication ritual that the community carried out in earlier centuries: during periods of drought, the saint was asked for water to irrigate the fields. The May procession to San Nicola also includes the route to the coast near contrada Ellera. This tradition links religious history with an awareness of agriculture, water, and the relationship between the town and its surroundings.

Ceramics and cuisine at Jungi Mundu

The ceramics workshop at Jungi Mundu provides insights into local history and traditional ceramics-making techniques. The Jungi Mundu bar-restaurant also offers courses in local and Syrian cuisine. Ceramics and cuisine focus on different aspects: the workshop centres on materials and craftsmanship, while the cooking courses focus on local and Syrian cuisine.

A name with a possible history of ovens

The place name Camini also carries a historical trace. It appears to derive from the Greek term kaminion for “oven”, possibly because of the numerous kilns that formerly stood in the locality of Furno. The derivation therefore remains linked to an earlier period and a possible explanation of the place name.

Other places in Reggio Calabria: San Luca, Scilla, Gioiosa Ionica, Bova Marina, Spina, Seminara, Bruzzano Zeffirio and Mammola.

About the Reggio Calabria region: Reggio Calabria.