Palmi

Nestled between the slopes of Monte Sant'Elia and the Costa Viola in the province of Reggio Calabria, Palmi enjoys magnificent natural scenery. Palmi is famous for the "Varia", one of Calabria's UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage traditions. The Varia di Palmi is one of the most important religious festivals in Calabria: it is celebrated on the last Sunday of August and is dedicated to Maria Santissima della Sacra Lettera ("Mary Most Holy of the Sacred Letter"). The fascinating procession of the Varia di Palmi consists of a gigantic "shoulder-borne structure" (over 15 metres high) carried through the streets by the faithful. Suspended at the top of the structure is the "Animella", a young girl representing the Madonna; the other children, tied to the structure, represent angels, while at the base of the float stand the apostles and, finally, the bearers.
The beaches of Palmi, awarded the Green Flag, are among the most captivating along the Lower Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria. From the area of the Tonnara di Palmi – where tuna and swordfish were once caught and processed – stretching as far as the iconic Scoglio dell'Ulivo, named after the distinctive olive tree growing on its summit, opens up a rocky, jagged coastline with wide beaches framed by Mediterranean scrub. These include Marinella of Palmi and the area of the marine caves – Grotta delle Sirene, Grotta dell'Arcudace and Grotta Perciata – which are perfect for exploration by diving.
These caves evoke the archaeological origins of Palmi, which stands in an area inhabited since the Bronze Age and later flourished with the pre-Hellenic city of Tauriana, whose remains can be admired in the National Archaeological Park of the Tauriani "Antonio De Salvo".
The historic centre is particularly pleasant for a stroll through the cafés and shops. A town with a strong artistic and cultural tradition, Palmi was the birthplace of several leading figures of 20th-century Italian culture, foremost among them the composer Francesco Cilea, to whom the Municipal Theatre of Reggio Calabria is dedicated, the ethnographer and essayist Antonio Basile, and the writer Leonida Repaci. One of Palmi's must-see places is named after him: the Casa della Cultura Leonida Repaci. Inside, visitors can explore the history and culture of Palmi in their entirety through themed rooms, each dedicated to a representative aspect of the area and its artistic and cultural vocation: from the Pinacoteca of Palmi to the Gipsoteca of Palmi, as well as the Antiquarium of Palmi, the room dedicated to the Varia di Palmi, and the section devoted to fishing.
Hiking enthusiasts can hike to the summit of Monte Sant'Elia, renowned for its crouching-lion shape and for the panoramic viewpoint known as Tre Croci Belvedere, one of the most beautiful lookouts in Calabria, offering views over the entire coastline, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. Palmi boasts a rich calendar of artistic, religious and gastronomic events not to be missed in every season. In addition to the Varia di Palmi procession</i>, the Estate Palmese is a festival programme offering food fairs, concerts and theatre performances, as well as the unmissable Fiera di San Rocco, held in honour of the town's patron saint, Saint Roch, and the celebrations dedicated to him.