Palizzi brings together all the elements of fairytale villages: a castle set on a cliff, a medieval village at its foot, and a humpback bridge overlooking a watercourse since the XIV century.
The name Palizzi most likely derived from the Byzantine word ‘Politzion’, ‘small city’.
The Village is enchanting, with its settlement that seems chiselled into rocks. Narrow alleys and endless tiers lead to the main square. Here, you will find the Church of St. Anna with its characteristic Byzantine dome.
The Village, rich in medieval atmospheres, is dominated by the castle. The latter was built on a majestic fortress and by the numerous overlapping of architectural elements from various periods. The castle was declared a National Monument by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.
In Palizzi, you can find the characteristic Catoj, basement rooms where farmers kept barrels of red wine, now known as IGT Palizzi Red and among the most renowned red wines of Calabrian viticulture.
Not too far from Palizzi, the Borgo of Pietrapennata dominates the scene surrounded by a mountain landscape of austere beauty. The small church inside the Village preserves the precious statue of the Madonna dell’Alica, attributed to Antonello Gagini and once an integral part of a Byzantine sanctuary.
