Lago

The name is a border. It most probably comes from a Lombard frontier post, Lagar or Lakar, planted against the coastal fortress of Amantea, first Byzantine and then held by the Saracens: Lago and neighbouring Longobardi are held to have been the outermost posts of the Lombard holdings in Calabria. Beyond that line the place names change sides, and it can still be read on the map: Piscopie, Chiorio, Greci, names that point back to Byzantine stations.

Earlier still, these lands belonged to the Bruttii, who had Consentia for their capital and struck finely made coins. Having chosen Hannibal in the Second Punic War, they paid dearly: Rome confiscated half their territory and took the right to cut their woods, which ended up supplying timber and pitch to the Roman fleets. Colonies of veterans were then planted around Lago, such as the one of 194 BC in what is now Campora San Giovanni. The village stands at four hundred and eighty-five metres, under monte Verzi, and on clear days Stromboli can be seen from up there.