Description of the attraction
Palmi is the second largest city in the province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region of Calabria with a population of about 20 thousand people. It is located on the slopes of Monte Sant Elia (582 meters) and overlooks the Costa Viola. Not far from the center of Palmi lies the small village of Taureana, a picturesque tourist resort nestled between the sea and mountain peaks. Its territory, with beaches, cliffs and terraces, is entirely part of the Costa Viola, which stretches to the Cape of Punta Pezzo.
Palmi itself, with its beaches Marina di Palmi and Lido di Palmi, is also considered a popular and rapidly developing seaside resort. The stunning beauty of these places, which has long attracted poets and writers here, is even recognized at the state level and is protected by a corresponding decree. In addition to being the provincial capital and the main educational center of its Tyrrhenian coast, it is also an important agricultural and commercial center. For centuries, the city has remained one of the most significant cultural sites in Calabria, where the famous composer Francesco Chilea and the writer Leonida Repachi were born. Here are the museum complexes "Casa della Cultura" and "Tauriani Archaeological Park", spread over the ruins of the ancient city of Taurianum.
It was the inhabitants of Taurianum, who fled from the attack of the Saracens, who founded Palmi in the 10th century. In 1549, the city was seriously damaged during another pirate raid, after which, by order of Count Carlo Spinelli, it was rebuilt and fortified. But already in 1783, Palmi with its powerful walls, three main gates and buildings was literally razed to the ground by a terrible earthquake. It was rebuilt again and lost again - devastating earthquakes happened back in 1894 and 1908. One of the buildings that survived these cataclysms is the one-nave church of Chiesa del Crocifisso with a rectangular apse. After the 1908 earthquake, it was repaired and connected to a nearby cloister with a cloister. It is interesting that recently in this church, under the main altar, burial chambers of monks with antique stone seats were found.
Another attraction of Palmi is the so-called "Olive Rock" not far from the Marinella beach - this is a cliff with an olive tree growing alone on its top. In addition, in the city you can visit the Museum of Ethnology and Folklore of Calabria, located in the building of the House of Culture. Leonids Repachi. It contains a rich collection of local household items, costumes and tools, which introduces the world of Calabrian shepherds and peasants, their religious beliefs, traditions and way of life. The Hall of Antiques displays exhibits dating from the 5th century BC. -11th century AD It also houses the Francesco Chilea Museum and Art Gallery with works by major Italian artists. In Piazza Matteotti, there is a War Memorial made of marble and bronze, designed by the sculptor Michele Guerrisi. Bas-reliefs made by him adorn the Mausoleum of Francesco Chilea.
In the vicinity of Palmi, peasant houses from the 18th century, the ruins of a 16th century watchtower and the small town of Monte Sant'Elia with a pine forest are also noteworthy. The Tyrrhenian coast begins 7 km from the center of Palmi. And not far from the Lido di Palmi beach is the same archaeological park with the ruins of the ancient city of Taurianum.
