Bova Marina

Bova Marina (Calabrian Greek: Γιαλός του Βούα, Jalò tu Vunà; Calabrian: A Marìna) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria in the region of Calabria in Italy, located about 120 kilometres (75 mi) southwest of Catanzaro and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southeast of Reggio Calabria. It has 3,979 inhabitants.^[2]

Bova Marina Γιαλός του Βούα / Φοίνικας (Greek)
Comune
Comune di Bova Marina
Panoramic view of Bova Marina
Location of Bova Marina
Bova Marina Location of Bova Marina in Italy Show map of Italy Bova Marina Bova Marina (Calabria) Show map of Calabria
Coordinates: 37°56′N 15°55′E
Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Metropolitan city	Reggio Calabria (RC)
Frazioni	Mesofugna, Amigdalà, Borgo, Centro, Costa dei Saraceni, Apambero, San PasqualeMetropolitan City
Government
• Mayor	Saverio Zavettieri
Area [1]
• Total	29.50 km2 (11.39 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Population  (2025)[2]
• Total	3,979
• Density	130/km2 (350/sq mi)
Demonym	Bovesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	89035
Dialing code	0965
Website	Official website

Bova Marina borders the following municipalities: Bova, Condofuri, Palizzi.

As evidenced by the above Greek place names, Bova Marina is one of the places where the Greek–Calabrian dialect is still spoken, a remnant of the ancient Greek colonization of Magna Graecia (South Italy and Sicily).

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1861 854 —     1871 1,109 +29.9% 1881 1,040 −6.2% 1901 2,140 +105.8% 1911 2,639 +23.3% 1921 3,258 +23.5% 1931 3,491 +7.2% 1936 3,801 +8.9%	Year Pop. ±% 1951 4,192 +10.3% 1961 4,068 −3.0% 1971 4,008 −1.5% 1981 3,786 −5.5% 1991 4,371 +15.5% 2001 3,967 −9.2% 2011 4,142 +4.4% 2021 4,080 −1.5%
Source: ISTAT[3][4]

Main sights

In 1983, during excavations for roadwork, the ruins of the Bova Marina Synagogue were discovered. This is the second oldest confirmed site of a synagogue in Italy, the oldest being the ancient synagogue of Ostia Antica near Rome. Parts of the ancient mosaic floor are still intact, which display ancient Jewish symbols, such as the menorah and Solomon's knot.

The building consisted of two square rooms, the first serving as a vestibule. The mosaic floor has a border with a motif of leaves and fruits and contains sixteen squares with geometric designs (the rosette and the so-called "Solomon's knot"), which leave room for the symbols of the menorah (in the centre), of 'ethrog (the cedar) and the palm branch (right) and the shofar (left).^[5]