Vibo Valentia's Medieval historic center has been maintained in excellent condition, with yellow tuff monumental buildings and streets paved with big lava rocks.
Here, the bell tower of San Michele stands out in the city, and is entirely dominated by the Norman Castle, most likely erected on the site of the Hypponion acropolis. The castle houses the State Archaeological Museum, with one of the most precious finds from the Hellenic past: the Laminetta Aurea, a golden lamina bearing the oldest Orpheus text found in Italy.
Going down the coast, one reaches Pizzo, a small Medieval city situated right on the sea. Its historical center is a maze of alleyways running into its main piazza, a meeting place during the summer nights. The little Church of Piedigrotta, dug into the tuff, is also a local attraction. Pizzo is one of the most famous seaside resorts in Catanzaro Province, along with Tropea and Capo Vaticano.
Moving south, we reach Briatico, an ancient settlement that, according to tradition, was set up by the Greeks of Locri. It is dotted with Medieval finds, and it is certainly one of the most interesting archaeological sites in the Province. Zambrone, Parghelia, Ioppolo and Nicotera pop up one after the other along the coastline.
Tropea is one of the most beautiful towns on the area. As myth recounts, it was settled by Hercules, who reached these shores from Spain. Other sources say it was settled by Scipio Africanus on his way back to Rome after having defeated Carthage. In reality, the city bears Roman, Byzantine, Norman, Suevian, Angevin and Aragonese traces.
Further inland, Filadelfia draws many visitors heading for the nearby Angitola Lake. The Certosa di Serra San Bruno is a very important and renowned monumental monastic settlement founded by Bruno of Cologne at the end of the 1100s. It is an authentic oasis marked by peace, nature, art and religious quiet, and is one of the favorite destinations of local tourists. Finally, Mileto, lastly, is another town with strong signs of religious devotion, particularly its Benedictine Abbey della Trinità and its Cathedral.
