Diamond

The story

Riding the waves of early trade, the Phocaeans, an ancient people who inhabited Asia Minor, landed on the Italian coast, in a quiet cove, suitable for safe docking for ships and located in a location that allowed for contact with the Samnites. This cove is now known as Diamante, located along the coast of what is now Calabria.

After the Punic Wars and as a result of territorial expansion, the Romans began to sail more and more, and, following the trade routes, they began to frequent this cove overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea more and more often, where they could easily exchange mica flakes for diamond stones and chips. This is why the area took the name "Diamond River." This new name gradually began to extend to the entire territory, which became "Diamond Land," but over time it came to refer only to a specific urban center.

Around the 16th century, Prince Sanseverino ordered the construction of a defensive outpost here, designed to withstand the challenging task of repelling Saracen raids. The birth of Diamante is historically linked to this event.

Around this first tower, in the following centuries, a larger fortification of the territory was built, commissioned by Don Tiberio Carafa who in 1622 had become prince of the territories of Belvedere Marittimo and Diamante.

When the threat of Turkish pirates subsided, the population moved from the hinterland to the coast, which encouraged increased trade and population growth, as many chose to move to Diamante, enchanted by the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

From this point on, Diamante began to enjoy peaceful years, as the village relied on a solid economy based on agriculture and fishing, but also on the production and marketing of the smooth Diamante cedar, which began to be exported to Israel and the United States of America, where it was most in demand by the Jewish communities, who still use it today for the Sukkot festival.

Near Diamante lies Cirella, a small village that also gave its name to the island opposite it, and which since 1811 has been part of the Majerà territory. In the 18th century, the mayor of Diamante requested a referendum to try to separate Cirella and its island from the hamlet of Majerà and territorially integrate it into the municipality of Diamante. Following this event, Cirella became a hamlet of Diamante.

Today Diamante is a quiet and relaxing village, blessed with an enchanting expanse of seawater and the bounty of the cedars that grow along the coast.

The hamlet of Diamante: Cirella

Cirella is a small hamlet in Diamante overlooking golden beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a small island of the same name. Despite its small size, this town boasts an ancient history, evidenced by the presence of artifacts dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period, discovered near the San Giovanni rock.

The Ausones, an ancient Italic people, founded one of their first cities in Cirella. Because of their loyalty to Rome, this town was destroyed by the fury of Hannibal's soldiers in 203 BC, as recounted by several Latin historians, including Strabo.

Despite the pain of devastation, the city nevertheless managed to rise again, and during the years of the Roman Empire, temples and public buildings were built, some important remains of which can still be admired today. Over the centuries, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times.

The islet of Cirella is also steeped in history. This small island boasts the ruins of ancient fortifications built to ward off the Saracens, remnants of Cirella Vecchia, which was destroyed by the French in 1806, and the remains of an ancient castle and a church with a Romanesque bell tower. On the slopes of the mountain, an ancient necropolis and the famous Cirella Mausoleum, an imposing Roman-era tomb that has served various purposes over the centuries, were discovered.

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Don Tiberio Carafa became Prince of Belvedere Marittimo and Diamante in 1622. He was a God-fearing man and a fervent devotee of the Virgin Mary. By virtue of his Catholic faith and benevolent nature, he decided to finance the construction of a church in Diamante. The village at the time needed a large place of worship to accommodate its ever-growing population.

The cornerstone was laid on April 23, 1645. Upon completion, a Baroque-style church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception was handed over to the people. It also included the Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory, an earlier construction. The chapel also provided support for the bell tower, now known to all as " u campanaru ." Once completed, the church was enriched with wooden statues dating back to the 17th century, donated by Diamante's most prominent families. The prince, however, was also responsible for donating to the citizens and the church an imposing two-meter-tall statue of the Immaculate Conception, crafted from a single olive tree trunk.

Over the centuries, the church has undergone various renovations and modifications, particularly in the 19th century when restorations were carried out that progressively changed the face of the entire building.

Church of San Giuseppe

The Church of San Giuseppe is a small building in the heart of Diamante's historic center. It was originally a family chapel and was initially dedicated to the worship of Saint Nicholas. For a long time, it was abandoned and neglected, and only in the early 1900s was restoration begun. It was completed in 1949, the year the statue of Saint Joseph was purchased, after whom this place of worship was later named.

In the 1960s, this small church was embellished with two paintings: 'The Flight into Egypt', which was placed on the ceiling, and 'The Blessed Transit of Saint Joseph between Jesus and Mary', located inside the dome, both works by Luigi Maniscalco, a Sicilian painter who worked throughout most of the 20th century.

The last restoration of this small church dates back to 1988, when the flooring and the new altar were redone in marble.

Ruins of Cirella

The ancient town of Cirella stood atop the promontory of Mount Carpinoso, where its ruins can still be admired today. The village was built on high ground in the 11th century, because its inhabitants needed a place of refuge that was easier to defend in the event of Saracen raids. Despite this, the town was sacked by seven Turkish galleys, fell into ruin over the centuries, and in 1808 was even bombarded by the navy, which was attempting to attack a French outpost. Following this tragic event, the inhabitants of Cirella decided to return to live along the coast and turned the ancient town into a quarry, plundering it of all its most important artifacts.

Today, walking through the ruins of this village is like standing still. In Cirella, you can still see the ancient Norman tower that flanked a manor, clearly serving a defensive purpose. Along the narrow streets, you can also glimpse the church of San Nicola Magno, dating back to the 14th-15th centuries. A cycle of frescoes once stood here, some of which are now preserved in the new town, specifically in the church of Santa Maria de' Flores. A smaller church was dedicated to the Annunciation, but its walls and ceiling have collapsed, leaving only an altar and pews for the faithful.

Diamante - City of Murals

The love stories between people and places are endless and it matters little if you were not born in these places and if you have not taken your first steps.

One of these stories of eternal affection also touches Diamante. In 1981, Genoese artist Nani Razzetti arrived in this Calabrian village with an idea as original as it was daring, and proposed it to the mayor, who accepted the challenge. The "Murals project" was one of the most successful challenges in Italian history: in June 1981, eighty-three artists from around the world arrived in Diamante, and with brushes and paints, they chose the walls of houses and monuments as their canvases, creating true works of art. Between 1986 and 1997, other murals were added to the project, and every year since then, a wall has become an artist's canvas.

Diamante today is a city of visitors with their noses in the air, but it is also a village that has brought its inhabitants to love their 'home' again, teaching them to care for it with passion and unconditional dedication.

Having reached three hundred murals, Diamante is by far the most painted city in Italy. The paintings capture the gazes and faces of this town's inhabitants. The murals tell stories of the South and everyday life, of men looking out of their doors, but also of Calabria's past, which can be admired in the evocative mosaic mural on the exterior wall of the main church, created by the Spositos. The sea in the murals is a symbol of hope, for the fishermen hoping to bring home a satisfying catch, but also for the migrants who entrust their lives to the waves. Many social themes shine through in the bright colors of the murals, including that of migrants, but also that of the role of women in society, told through a historical overview. But Diamante's murals aren't just images. In 2009, under the guidance of Professor Antonietta dell'Arte, the "Rainbow in Verses" project was launched, which brought words to the walls of Piazza di Maio and Via Alfieri. Ten poets took on this endeavor, which yielded fantastic results. One poem in particular sums up this beautiful story: "Beauty is a desire for happiness."

The Chili Pepper Academy

Everyone knows that Calabria is the home of spicy food, but few know that the Italian Academy of Chili Pepper was even founded in Diamante.

Humanity is divided into two large categories: chili pepper lovers and those who stay miles away from it, yet in the past this spice, which arrived from America, earned the nickname 'the poor man's drug' because it was cheap and irresistible.

The Italian Chili Pepper Academy was founded in 1994 by Enzo Monaco, who, after gaining some support, decided to establish a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting chili peppers. Over the years, the academic members have grown to thousands, and today they are spread abroad. ItaliaPic, a network for businesses, restaurants, and shops whose owners are chili pepper enthusiasts, has also been established.

Among the inevitable spicy dinners, cooking classes, and championships for true chili pepper eaters, the Italian Chili Pepper Academy is pursuing an experimental project that culminates in the creation of the Centro Calabria Capsum. This center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, has launched a project to promote and classify Italian and Mediterranean chili pepper varieties. It also houses the largest collection of chili pepper varieties in Italy, which are on display at the many exhibitions and events in which the academy participates.

The academy also promotes the study and research into the uses of chili pepper in the pharmaceutical and medical fields, as well as in gastronomy and cosmetics.

The Riviera dei Cedri and the Smooth Cedar of Diamante

Peri 'etz adar , the fruit of the most beautiful tree. This is the name the Jews give to the citron, the most important fruit in their religion. From Tortora to Cedraro, along the Calabrian-Tyrrhenian coast, lies the Riviera dei Cedri (Cedar Riviera), where almost all of the national production is grown and where the most prized variety is also found: the smooth Diamante citron.

It's said that this cultivation was introduced to Calabria by the Jews, and that the cedar found the only microclimate along this coast that allowed it to thrive. But that's not all. The cedar is a cold-tolerant tree that adapts well to mild climates. Farmers meticulously adopt techniques and secrets passed down from generation to generation to protect the integrity of each individual tree.

Every year from April to June, the Riviera is an explosion of white flowers with purple hues and a strong yet delicate scent. This balanced and decisive mix allows the citron to remain a sacred fruit after millennia, and above all, a symbol of a bridge between different cultures and religions. From June to August, rabbis from around the world gather along the Riviera to select the best citrons to celebrate Sukkoth, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. According to the sacred scriptures, it was God himself who indicated this fruit to Moses to celebrate this special occasion, and even today, every October, Jews leave their homes to move into huts set up for the occasion in gardens and on balconies. For seven days, except Saturday, they carry a palm, two willow branches, and three myrtle branches in their left hand, and a citron in their right. According to the sacred scriptures, citrons must be perfect, with no damaged peel, and must not come from grafted plants. For this reason, rabbis travel to the Calabrian coast and work alongside farmers in the harvest. The rabbis select the best citrons, but it is the farmers who harvest them, as the process is extremely delicate, requiring them to be done on their knees due to the low, thorny trees. Every year, this tradition draws thousands of curious visitors to the Riviera dei Cedars. Most of the citron crops are harvested for the Jewish holiday, but some are also used for food and pharmaceutical purposes. This citrus fruit cannot be consumed fresh, so it undergoes specific transformation processes to make candied citrons, as well as liqueurs, jams, creams, ice creams, and sorbets. Cedar is also an antioxidant, a powerful anti-aging agent and promotes physical well-being, which is why it was chosen by Favo (Italian Federation of Oncology Volunteer Associations) as the symbol of Cancer Patients' Day.

Nuccio Ordine

Nuccio Ordine was born in Diamante on July 18, 1958.

He teaches Italian literature at the University of Calabria but has also taught at important foreign universities, including Yale University, the Sorbonne in Paris, and the École Normale in Paris.

He is an Italian scholar and academic, a contributor to the Corriere della Sera, and the author of numerous works that have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.

Nani Razetti

Nani Razetti was born in Genoa in 1924. He studied in Naples and was fascinated by the Sicilian school of painting of Guttuso, placing particular attention in his works to the search for "a very personal figurative form that stands out between the image of the mind and reality."

In 1981, together with the then mayor of Diamante, Evasio Pascale, he launched the mural project, which brought around eighty-three artists from all over the world to this Calabrian village.

The murals of Diamante still manage to make this village unique today and Nani Razetti deserves credit for having given new light to the historic centre.

Despite his passing in 2013, Nani Razetti's name is still remembered with sincere affection in Diamante and throughout Calabria.

Diamante's cuisine is rich in intense aromas, because it bases its main dishes on three ingredients: fresh fish, which its sea is abundant with, chili pepper, and citron.

Diamond-style grouper

'Gernia alla diamantese' is a fish main course and is certainly Diamante's best-known and most popular dish.

Ingredients:

• a one and a half kilo grouper;
• 100 g of extra virgin olive oil;
• 250 g of dry white wine;
• 100 g of pitted black olives;
• 50 g of capers without salt;
• 200 g of tomato fillets;
• 2 bay leaves;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• Chopped parsley;
• Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

Clean and gut the grouper, and let it drain for half an hour. After this time, pat it dry with a kitchen towel, season with salt and pepper, and place it in a deep baking dish. Add chopped tomatoes, garlic, and olives, capers, bay leaves, oil, and white wine, and bake at 180°C (350°F) for about half an hour.

Once the grouper is ready, arrange it on a serving dish, taking care not to break it apart. Pour the cooking juices into the same dish and add the chopped parsley.

Cedar Liqueur

Citron liqueur is the oldest and most popular of Calabrian digestives. Making it at home is incredibly easy, but those who don't have the time but still want to enjoy this delicacy can purchase it in one of the many shops along the Riviera.

Ingredients:

-four medium uncut cedars;

– 1 litre of 90° alcohol;

– 1 liter of water;

– 500 g of sugar.

Procedure:

Clean the citrons and cut the peel into strips, being careful to remove the white pith, which is particularly bitter. Fill a sealable glass container with alcohol and let the cut citrons macerate for a week. It's important to keep the citrons away from heat sources and store them in a cool, dry place.

After a week, take a liter of warm water and dissolve the sugar. Then, add the syrup to the previously filtered citron alcohol. Shake vigorously and let it steep for five days. Finally, pour it into a bottle and store in a cool place.

The ideal temperature to serve this liqueur is 4° but it can also be served chilled.