Mammola is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about 70 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 60 km northeast of Reggio Calabria. Mammola is positioned on the margins of the territory of the Aspromonte National Park, not too distant from the Southern Ionian coasts of Calabria.
Some scholars identified it with the ancient Magno-Greek colony of Malea or Melea (V century BC), as remembered by the historian and Greek general, Tucidide.
It is more likely that the present day centre rose up on the ruins of the ancient Greek colony during the Byzantine era (X century) following Saracen raids which pushed its inhabitants from the coast towards more secure inland areas. Here there were definitely already Basilian monk communities which were active in Calabria since the VIII century.
In particular, it was San Nicodemo who was active (900-990), when he founded the homonymous monastery on Mount Cellerano.
The village appeared in a document of the S. Nicodemo Monastery dating back to the XII century by the name of Mammula, therefore tying its history to that of neighbouring Grotteria.
Under the Angioinians it was assigned to the following families: Giovanni Ruffu (1283), Lauria (1303), Sebrasio (1309), del Prato (until 1342) and the Luna (until 1400).
Under the Aragonese it was entrusted to the following families: Caracciolo (until 1455), Correale (until 1501), Carafa (until 1540), under whom Mammola became a baronage.
These families were then followed by the: Galiego, Loffredo (until 1573), Ruffo (until 1574), de Pazzi (until 1577), Aragona d'Ayerbe (until 1592), Joppolo (until 1677) and the Spina (until 1735).
Under the Bourbons, the following families ascended to power: Barreca (until 1748), De Gregorio, who ruled until the subversion of feudalism (1806).
Mammola and its inhabitants adhered to the Carbonari movements (1820-21), the Risorgimento (1848) and the Unitarians (1860).
Following the unification into the Reign of Italy (1861), Mammola experienced the brigandage phenomenon and that of emigration across the ocean ('900).
A visit to Mammola is very evocative, given the Medieval structure of the village and the rich architectonic and artistic patrimony that it preserves. There are numerous nobiliary buildings to admire while walking through the alleyways, which suddenly give panoramic glimpses of the surrounding hills.
The churches are remarkable for their numbers and artistic value, among which we would like to point out: the S. Nicola of Bari Matrix Church and the Annunziata Church with its beautiful façade. Outside Mammola one can visit the San Biagio Abbey dating back to the X century.
In the interior of the Aspromonte National Park, apart from numerous naturalistic excursions, one must visit the San Nicodemo Monastery.