Palmi
City of the Varia, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tradition and folklore
Palmi - Regione Calabria
Nestled between the slopes of Mount 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 the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Heritages in Calabria. The Varia of 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. The fascinating procession of the Varia of Palmi consists of a gigantic ‘’shoulder machine‘’ (over 15 metres high) that is carried by the faithful through the streets of the town. Suspended at the top of the structure is the so-called ‘’Animella‘’, a little girl who represents the Madonna; tied to the structure, the other children represent the angels, while at the foot of the carriage stand the apostles and, finally, the bearers.
Palmi's Green Flag beaches are among the most fascinating in Calabria's Lower Tyrrhenian Sea. From the area of the Tonnara di Palmi (where tuna and swordfish used to be fished and processed) to the iconic Olive Rock (so called because of the singular olive tree at the top), there is a rocky and jagged coastline with wide beaches framed by Mediterranean maquis: such as the Marinella and the area of the sea caves (Cave of the Mermaids, Arcudace Cave and Perciata Cave), perfect to explore by diving or taking a boat tour.
The caves recall the archaeological origins of Palmi, which stands in an area inhabited since the Bronze Age and flourished with the pre-Hellenic city of Tauriana, whose remains can be admired in the ‘’Antonio De Salvo‘’ National Archaeological Park of the Taurians.
The historic centre is particularly pleasant for a stroll among the cafés and shops. A town with a great artistic and cultural tradition, Palmi was the birthplace of some outstanding personalities of the Italian 20th century, above all: 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 dedicated to the latter: the House of Culture.
Inside, it is possible to appreciate Palmi's history and culture in its entirety, through themed rooms, each one dedicated to a representative aspect of the territory and its artistic and cultural vocation: from the Pinacoteca to the Gipsoteca, passing through the Antiquarium, the room dedicated to the Varia of Palmi and the one dedicated to fishing.
Trekking enthusiasts can walk to the summit of Mount Sant'Elia, famous for its crouching lion shape and the ‘’Three Crosses‘’ panoramic viewpoint, one of the most beautiful in Calabria, where the view sweeps over the entire coastline, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands.
Palmi is rich in artistic, religious and gastronomic events not to be missed in all seasons. In addition to the Procession of the Varia, the Palmi Summer is the kermesse that offers festivals, concerts, theatrical performances and the not-to-be-missed Fair of San Rocco, in honour of the patron saint and the feast that is dedicated to him.
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