Holiday apartment in Vibo Valentia: Archaeology and panoramic views

Vibo Valentia lies on a hill 476 metres above sea level. From here, the panoramic view stretches from Capo Palinuro in Campania to the Aeolian Islands and Mount Etna in Sicily. This prominent elevated location provides an impressive introduction to a journey that combines landscape and history. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Vibo Valentia will find a place where cultural interests and sweeping views can be enjoyed together.

Holiday apartment in Vibo Valentia for historical discoveries

The Museo Archeologico Statale “Vito Capialbi” reconstructs the history of Vibo Valentia, from the Locrian colony of Hipponion to the Roman colony of Valentia. The city’s archaeological park serves to protect and enhance monumental remains from the Greek and Roman periods. The route at Trappeto Vecchio follows the remains of Greek fortification walls with towers and small gates for at least 500 metres.

The tour also includes the remains of a Doric temple at Belvedere Telegrafo, built at the end of the 5th century BC. The Terme e domus romane di Vibonia in Sant'Aloe complement this picture with a Roman thermal complex from the 2nd century AD and several domus, one of which has a peristyle. Greek fortifications, temple construction, and Roman residential and bathing architecture thus stand alongside one another as distinct historical themes.

Churches, art and evidence from many periods

The religious buildings also take visitors through several periods. The Chiesa di San Giuseppe was commissioned by the Jesuits, built according to a design by Francesco Grimaldi, and opened for worship in 1701. Its interior includes, among other works, the painting La visione di Sant'Ignazio and a wooden group of figures depicting San Giuseppe on the main altar.

The cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore e San Leoluca preserves a polychrome marble high altar from the 18th century by Francesco Raguzzini, a fully sculpted Madonna della Neve statue from the 16th century attributed to Annibale Caccavello, and a Renaissance marble triptych by Gagini. Palazzo Capialbi houses collections of Roman glass, Greek bronze figurines and medieval finds. It also preserves an autograph manuscript page by Giacomo Leopardi featuring his poem L'infinito.

From Santuario to Tonnara

The Santuario di S. Ruba was built around the year 1000 by Pope Callixtus II and has a dome with an Oriental design. The Castello Normanno-Svevo has two cylindrical towers and a hexagonal tower on its western façade. Another distinctive feature can be found in Bivona: The Tonnara di Bivona is a 19th-century building associated with tuna fishing and regarded as an example of maritime industrial archaeology. Boats and nets were kept in the loggia; activities connected with preparing the tuna trap took place in the outdoor area.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can make your interests the starting point: museums, religious architecture, ancient sites, remains of fortifications or maritime history each provide their own focus for planning your trip.

More destination pages: Sant'onofrio, Rombiolo, Filogaso, San Calogero, Zungri, Torre Marino, Pizzo.

To the overarching travel overview: Vibo Valentia.