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On the basis of significant new deep seismic exploration data from the CROP project, an innovative lithospheric reconstruction of the tectono-stratigraphy and geodynamics of the Calabrian arc has been done. For a long time, the detection of deep seismic activity has suggested the existence of a Calabro-Tyrrhenian slab, and seismic exploration data showed that the Ionian Sea was floored by old oceanic crust subducting beneath the Calabrian arc. CROP data allow us now to reconstruct a well-controlled pre-orogenic paleogeographic framework and the evolving tectono-dynamics, imaging for the first time the Ionian slab down to a depth of over 150 km. Two communicating ocean basins (Ionian Tethys of Permo-Triassic opening, interposed between Africa and Adria, and the Alpine Tethys of Middle Jurassic--Lower Cretaceous opening, interposed between Africa and Europe to the west, and Adria and Europe to the east), three plates (Africa, Eurasia and Adria) and two promontories (Etrurian Promontory on NW Adria and Panormid Promontory to the NW of Sicily) played leading roles in the evolution of the Mediterranean geodynamics. In the Eo-Alpine stage, the northeastern Alpine Tethys closed in the Alps sector with formation of the Eo-Alps, leaving unsubducted a wide western Alpine Tethys remnant. In this stage lower crust units of NW Adria (Etrurian Promontory) thrust over the western Tethys remnant; we find at the end these basement sheets at top stack of the Northern Calabria. Driven by W-dipping subduction of the western Alpine Tethys remnant, in the Balearic stage (Oligocene--Lower Miocene) the Corso-Sardinian block (CSB) rotated, causing collision between Corsica and the Etrurian Promontory to the north, and between SE Sardinia and the Panormid promontory to the south. CSB rotation stopped, but subduction continued in the Ionian Sea in the Tyrrhenian stage (Middle Miocene to Present). Driven by Ionian lithospheric roll-back sinking, the tectono-dynamics of the Southern Apennines, Calabrian arc, Sicilian Apennines and the Tyrrhenian back-arc basin opening took place. The Etrurian Promontory dissected the Northern Apennines from the Southern along the 41. parallel, northern Ionian boundary, and the Panormid Promontory dissected the Maghrebian chain from the Sicilian Apennines. Crustal blocks of the Etrurian Promontory corner (overlain by Europe-verging austro-Alpine Etrurian lower crust units and ophiolite-Alpine Tethydes units, thrust over in the Balearic stage) were detached and transported southeastward. Part thrust obliquely over the Apulian slope, leaving detached cover units free to move outward forming the Apennine platform topmost sheets; part went to form the reset stack-pile of Northern Calabria (Sila.Northern Serre Mts), followed by Corso-Sardinian crustal fragments. Crustal blocks of the Panormid Promontory, stacked with the SE-Sardinian margin in the Balearic stage, were detached and tectonically transported eastward over the Ionides. Part thrust over the northern Sicilian slope and part were stacked in the Southern Calabrian arc, overlain by Alpine Tethydes and other units and, topmost, by basement units of the Sardinian margin (Southern Serre, Aspromonte and Peloritani Mts). Deep deposition cover of the Ionian Tethys slab was stripped off from its subducting basement, going to form allochthonous units (Ionides) in the Southern Apennines (Lagonegrese) and Sicily (Imerese. Sicanian units) and a prominent wedge of imbricated units of the Calabrian arc in the Ionian basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]