Things to Do and See in Catanzaro

Catanzaro, the capital of the province of the same name, stretches across three hills: Vescovado, San Trifone, and San Giovanni. The Moranti-Bisantis viaduct is one of the tallest in Europe; built in the 1960s, it connects the historic center with the De Filippis district and the valley of the Fiumarella, a small local stream. Among the main monuments is the Duomo, or the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Saints Peter and Paul, which houses the Madonna and Child, a statue by Antonello Gagini. We also recommend visiting the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the Church of Saint Teresa, where the adjoining convent is particularly worth seeing. Don’t miss the ancient monumental complex of San Giovanni, built on the site of the Castle of San Giovanni, where the ancient walls and the Norman Tower— which is square in shape and crenellated, and Villa Trieste, surrounded by splendid gardens featuring rare plants and marble busts of famous figures from the region. Elsewhere in the province, the town of Soverato—known as the “Pearl of the Ionian Sea” and famous for its chili peppers—is worth noting. Here, visitors can admire many reminders of its past, such as the archaeological site of Soverato Antica, the picturesque village of Soverato Superiore, the Matrice dell’Addolorata with its Gagini sculpture, the Tower of Galilea (or Tower of Charles V), and the Art Nouveau palaces and churches. The town is also famous for its nightlife and nightclubs.