Sitting on a hill overlooking the Marina is the old town of Palizzi, without doubt one of the most charming places in Calabria .
It is located at the bottom - eastern side (image-bottom left) of the 'toe'.
The town is located approximately 7 km from the coast (Palizzi Marina) and can be reached along a narrow and twisting road offering a breathtaking view of the surroundings.
The castle, rising on a mammoth fortress, was official declared a national heritage monument.
There isn't any reliable data about its construction, but a plaque placed at the entrance suggests that by 1580 it was 'falling of old age'.
It was restored in 1751 by the Colonna Family and in 1866 was once again renovated and expanded by the Baron Blasio Tiberious.
It appears that defensive walls and a set of two towers were also added. In 1866 it was renovated and enlarged by the Baron de Blasio Tiberius . Inside was a large room with only one window , the kitchen " with its fireplace", a series of other rooms , warehouses and cellars. Holding cells were dug in the rock.
Around town
The virtually unchanged medieval lay out of the Centre is dominated by the castle and deserves a visit to see the church of Santa Anna with its Byzantine dome which houses a unique marble statue of the saint.
Palizzi Marina : Apart from the Palizzi Tower also known as Mozza, built in 1595, Palizzi Marina present an archeological area of great interest, where is possible to admire the ruins of a Roman villa of the IV century BC.
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The municipality of Palizzi contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) of Palizzi Superiore, Palizzi Marina, Pietrapennata, and Spropoli.
It is one of the Greek (Griko dialect) speaking villages of Bovesia and one of the two Griko-speaking areas of southern Italy.
Getting there ;
By Car-From Lamezia International Airport - Drive straight To Rosarno - cross the region toward Siderno (you are now on the Ionian Sea side), and continue along the coast until you reach the town. Km 163 - Time 2 h 15 min.
Via Reggio di Calabria : Lamezia Airport to Reggio 126 km -1h 22 min - Continue to Palizzi - 62.6 km - 1h 8 min.
From Rome - Take the A3 Salerno - Reggio di Calabria motorway to Lamezia and follow the above directions.
The closest domestic airport is located in Reggio di Calabria for those flying in from within Italy. (Aeroporto dello Stretto).
Palizzi borders the following municipalities:
Bova
Bova Marina
Brancaleone Marina
The old abandoned town of Brancaleone
Staiti
 Palizzi e' certamente uno dei paesi piu' pittoreschi dell' intera Calabria. Vi si arriva percorrendo una decina di Km di una tortuosa e stretta strada che parte da Palizzi Marina.
Il paese si presenta agli occhi del visitatore con un il fascino di un centro urbano quasi incontaminato, costituito da case di impianto medievale.
Il castello ancora discretamente conservato sovrasta il piccolo borgo con in fondo la fiumara.
Vale la pena di percorrere a piedi tutto il centro abitato: numerose saranno le sorprese costituite da fantasiose soluzioni architettoniche, da modeste abitazioni piene di fiori, da sottopassaggi e scalette.
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