Vibo Valentia

Inhabited since the Neolithic, the territory on which the current Vibo Valentia stands is mainly hilly. This strategic position - far from irrelevant especially from a military point of view - has been exploited by the peoples who over the centuries have exercised their hegemony over this portion of the boot. The first to colonize what would later become Vibo Valentia were the Greeks from Locride, who in the second half of the seventh century BC founded the sub-colony of Hipponion, which, supported by Locri and Medma, defeated Crotone in a war that took place in the following century. 

Hipponion assumed a prestigious role thanks to Agatocle, who in 294 BC conquered the city transforming it into a center of the first level. According to the historian Strabo, important architectural works are due to the tyrant of Syracuse such as the expansion of the port and the city ​​walls, which through these interventions radically changed its face, becoming a fortress in all respects. The city would then pass under the dominion of the Romans, who renamed Hipponion in Valentia, which continued to represent a point of reference not only for defense activities, but also for trade. In the following centuries the inhabitants of Vibo Valentia would also have known the domination of Normans, Angevins, Aragonese and Bourbons.

Although it is not particularly extensive, Vibo Valentia is a rich treasure chest that holds important treasures. The seventeenth-century cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore and San Leoluca, patron saint of the city, certainly emerge among the most significant. The church, built on the remains of a Byzantine basilica dating back to the 9th century, has a Latin cross plan and a Baroque facade. The building was seriously damaged by the devastating earthquake that shook southern Calabria in 1783. Other notable places of worship are also the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Salute, the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, that of Sant'Antonio di Padova and that of San Michele. The last three that we have mentioned are of greater importance as they contain canvases by Luca Giordano, a leading exponent of Neapolitan painting of the seventeenth century. 

The cultural heritage of the Vibonese capital is not limited only to religious buildings. To watch over Vibo Valentia there is the Norman-Swabian Castle, which stands on the hill where the acropolis of Hipponion was probably located. Transformed into a home by the Pignatelli family, the fortress is now home to the "Vito Capialbi" state archaeological museum. In the hamlet of Vibo Marina there is another fortification: it is the Castle of Bivona, dating back to the fifteenth century. Left in neglect for centuries, the structure is currently undergoing major restoration works that will soon allow it to be used again. 

Walking along the historic center of Vibo Valentia, you cannot help but admire the numerous noble palaces that embellish the city. Among the most important are Palazzo Romei (built on a project by Leon Battista Alberti ), Palazzo di Francia (where Gioacchino Murat also lived ) and Palazzo Gagliardi (seat of the Italian institute of criminology). 

On the territory of Vibo there are also a whole series of archaeological sites. It is still possible to admire what remains of the walls of Hipponion, of several temples, of the Greek necropolis. If this were not enough, in very recent times some Roman furnaces have been found (in 2009); this discovery was followed, in 2014, by that of a Hellenic period structure, a domus and an early Christian baptistery. 

Vibo Valentia rhymes not only with history and art, but also with nature. The Vibonese coast, in fact, is part of the "Costa degli Dei" Regional Marine Park: established in 2008, the park includes a stretch of coast about 55 km long  that goes from Pizzo Calabro to Nicotera. Among the urban parks, however, the "Regina Margherita" municipal villa and park of remembrances stand out, where a stele in honor of Giuseppe Garibaldi stands out. 

This short article dedicated to the Calabrian city cannot be considered truly exhaustive if it does not refer - albeit briefly - to its food and wine tradition. One of the main dishes of the Vibonese tradition is certainly the fileja (or filej), a type of pasta made with the help of a wire. Two other excellences of the Vibo area are also the Tonno Calippo company and, in the spirits sector, the Caffo distillery , internationally known for the production of the famous Vecchio Amaro del Capo.