On a good day from the highest point of Vibo Valentia it is possible to see the Sila Mountains to the north and the summit of Mount Etna on Sicily to the south. Today, it is the provincial capital and full of imposing official buildings, from the Norman castle to numerous renaissance and baroque churches.
  Vibo Valentia is an extremely old town. It was founded in the 7th century BC by the Greeks, the town was conquered successively by the Carthaginians, Romans (who named it Vibo Valentia), Normans (who built a castle that still stands) and many more over it’s history. It was given a new name of Monteleone in the 13th century and was only renamed back to it’s Roman name of Vibo Valentia in 1928.
In the old town which sprawls down the hill you will find Roman ruins and thermal baths. The Norman castle has four towers each built at different times by different rulers. There is an archaeological museum inside.
Vibo Valentia is now a centre for regional agriculture and agricultural tool industries. |