Mileto
Mileto, diocesan city and ancient Norman capital
Art and Culture
Mileto - Regione Calabria
Mileto, a small town in the province of Vibo Valentia, is known as the ancient Norman capital, famous for being the birthplace of the first king of Sicily, Roger II.
In addition to the important role it played in that particular period of the Middle Ages, Mileto is still an important episcopal see, guardian of ancient archaeological and religious traces.
The ancient city of Mileto is believed to have been founded by Milesians from Asia Minor around the 5th century BC. Unfortunately, not much remains of Ancient Mileto, as it was razed to the ground by an earthquake in 1783. However, the monumental remains of the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, one of the most important medieval places of worship in Calabria, and various marble artefacts can still be seen in the Medieval Archaeological Park of Ancient Mileto. Mileto has been a bishopric since the 11th century, when Ruggero I d'Altavilla obtained the foundation of the episcopate from Pope Gregory VII, first embracing the Latin rite, then the Greek-Byzantine rite. Today, its symbol is the imposing Cathedral of S. Maria Assunta, now in post-earthquake neo-Romanesque style.
Among the places to visit in Mileto are the State Museum, housed in the Bishop's Palace, with a precious collection of ancient and medieval marbles, ceramics, sacred furnishings and paintings, and the Diocesan Historical Archive, established in 1200 and still home to around 5,000 precious medieval documents and codices. The visit ends with a stroll through the well-kept Villa Comunale and the streets of the historic centre, embellished with various murals.
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