A Calabrian hill village shaped by stone, olive groves, and timeless hospitality.
Riache, Calabria (Italy)
Riace, Calabria (Italy)
regeneration through creativity, longevity, and economic vitality
Quick Facts
Location
Ionian coast, Calabria region
Structures
Ancient hilltop village, Byzantine origins
Environment
Distinctive
Internationally known for its refugee integration and social regeneration model
Mediterranean hills, olive groves, sea proximity
Snapshot
Status:
Inhabited, reactivated through social innovation
Population:
1,700 residents (ISTAT 2024)
Access
By road from coastal towns; 1 hour from Reggio Calabria
Sources
Comune di Riace, Borghi Autentici d’Italia
Key Features:
Riace gained global attention for revitalizing its empty homes through inclusive migration projects. Cobblestone streets, traditional craft workshops, and murals tell stories of coexistence and rebirth.
Potential:
A blueprint for Rooted Villages’ cooperative living model — blending social inclusion, heritage recovery, and circular economy through local crafts, agroforestry, and intercultural programming.
Vision:
Riace evolves into a creative campus for longevity, craft, and rural innovation — linking heritage with a new generation of residents and makers.
