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Forming part of the nature park Parco Naturale Regionale delle Serre, the village of Francavilla Angitola in the province of Vibo Valentia is a haven of culture and nature in the true sense of the word.
Francavilla Angitola stands on the edge of the nature reserve WWF Lago Angitola, one of the most attractive artificial lakes in Calabria. Over time, it has become an oasis of Mediterranean biodiversity and an important destination for migratory birds.
Seen from above, the town has the appearance of a benevolent dragon, an animal associated with the iconography of its patron saint, St Phocas the Martyr, who is celebrated on 5 March and the second Sunday of August. The saint's name is linked to the very origin of Francavilla Angitola, formed after the victorious campaign of the Byzantine general Nikephoros Phokas the Elder, the army's commander during 885–886, when the Saracens plundered the villages of the Calabrian coast, killing the inhabitants. The town was named Casale di Rocca Niceforo in his honour, but is now known as Rocca Angitola, of which only the ruins remain. Also worth a visit is the Church of Saint Phocas the Martyr, together with the churches of Our Lady of Grace and of the Holy Rosary.
As well as being part of Byzantine history, Francavilla Angitola is also an important destination when exploring the history of Augustinian monasteries in Calabria: Our Lady of the Cross is considered one of the most important convents of the Zumpani congregation during the 17th century. It once housed valuable works of art, paintings and statues. Today, all that remains are the ruins, which can be admired during a nature trek around Lake Angitola and its surroundings.
Among the typical local costumes are the pacchiàna, the Calabrian commoner in traditional festive dress, which is one of the most important symbols of Francavilla Angitola's craftsmanship and female identity.
