Palmi, Coastal city in Calabria, Italy
Palmi sits on a terrace between the Sant'Elia mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, about 230 meters above the water. The town stretches along the coast and offers open views over the Mediterranean and the surrounding hills.
The settlement arose when inhabitants of Taurianum fled Saracen raids into the mountains and established themselves on this terrace. Heavy earthquakes in the late 18th and early 20th centuries destroyed large parts of the town, which was then rebuilt.
The town displays buildings from different periods, as the settlement was rebuilt several times after major earthquakes. Today you can see modern structures alongside churches and squares that date back to times before the destruction, offering a sense of the older layout.
The town serves as an administrative center for several municipalities in the Gioia Tauro plain and provides postal services and other public facilities for the area. The location on the terrace makes most streets easy to walk, though some slopes should be considered.
Each year on August 16, a popular festival in honor of Saint Rocco takes place, featuring a large procession through the streets. This celebration has been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage and draws visitors from across the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
