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ancient settlements and ports located close to the rivers’ mouths. The harbor of Croton
represents the exception, since it was built on a raised terrace immune to the effects of
the river Esaro. Similarly, the entire area south of the city, from Capo Colonna to Le
Castella, is not affected by heavy sedimentation, since there are no rivers flowing into
the sea in this area of Calabria.
In the 1980s and 1990s the Italian government, trying to give a new economic
stimulus to the region’s economy and to develop tourism, began an ambitious project of
improving Calabria’s maritime facilities. As a result of this effort, nine small artificial
harbors have been built along the Ionian coastline. 62 Along the Tyrrhenian coast, from
south to north, seven more landing-places have been created. 63 Interestingly, both the
tiny harbors of Sybaris and Gizzeria are port-canals, as was likely the case in antiquity.
In modern times efforts are under way to return the coastline of Calabria to what it was
25 centuries ago: a much more hospitable land for sailors and their ships.
62 These harbors are, from north to south: Laghi di Sibari, Corigliano Calabro, Cariati, Ciro’ Marina, Le
Castella, Marina di Catanzaro, Badolato, Roccella Jonica, and Saline Joniche. (Bianchi di Castelbianco
2003, 44-70). The author personally saw the harbor of Badolato Marina almost finished and in use by
small fishing boats in the summer of 2003.
63 The names of the harbors are: Scilla, Bagnara, Tropea, Pizzo Calabro, Gizzeria, Cetraro, and Diamante.
(Bianchi di Castelbianco 2003, 7-38).
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