Lamezia Terme, a city that surprises with its rich historical and architectural heritage. Walking through the narrow streets, you can admire imposing churches, like its Cathedral, a statue with a strong symbolic value, and a museum about the area; then there is the Spa, for an even more pleasant stay.
Lamezia Terme is an Italian city in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region.
Lamezia Terme is an ideal seaside resort with several stunning beaches and lots of interesting coves to swim or canoe around on the glittering Mediterranean coast. Behind Lamezia Terme is a rich landscape of mountains, forests and tranquil lakes so no matter what direction you go in first when you arrive, you’ll be immersed in the beauty of natural surroundings.
Lamezia Terme is rich with historical sites; legacies of Greek, Roman and Norman settlements that thrived here throughout the centuries.
Learn about the fascinating history of the ruins that remain standing and discover how it has shaped the culture of this interesting land.
HIHLIGHTS
The Cathedral of Santi Pietro e Paolo in Lamezia Terme
Raised and with a majestic facade, dedicated to the Saints Peter and Paul, it is the Cathedral of the Lametini – as the inhabitants of the town are called. It is located in the heart of Lamezia Terme, in the main avenue Corso Nicastro, the byzantine Neocastrum. Built in 1640 and subsequently remodeled, today it has a neoclassical style that can be admired in the majestic and shiny facade, decorated with the marble busts of Saints Peter and Paul, while in two niches stand out those of the Popes Marcellus II and Innocent IX, bishops of the city. Do not go any further. Inside, with three naves, there are significant works: pause in front of the holy water font in green marble of Calabria of the seventeenth century, pay attention to the wooden choir with precious inlays, and before leaving, look up at the remarkable pipeorgan of the twentieth century.2
The Lametino and its Archaeological Museum in Lamezia Terme
To know and understand a city, it is from its origins that one needs to start, and you cannot leave Lamezia Terme without a visit to the Lametino Archaeological Museum which, like the Cathedral, is right in Nicastro. Entering is really a process of discovery; each section intrigues and reveals the history of the area. There are many finds exhibited of various eras, of various materials, and related to the most varied aspects of life. There are tools used by hunters in the Palaeolithic period, while those from the Neolithic period were the tools of farmers in the Lamezia valley. There is a tombstone from the 5th century BC, a testamentary table from the 4th century BC, a female marble statue from the 1st-2nd century BC, Sicilian-Norman ceramics from the 13th-14th century and many other remains recovered in the excavation of the Benedictine Abbey of S. Maria di S. Eufemia. It will be fun to compare the exhibited objects of everyday use for food and toiletries with our own.3
Frederick II statue. The sense of memory of Lamezia Terme
The statue can be found in the Nicastro neighborhood, right on Via Garibaldi, in an evocative position with great symbolic value. The glorious King Frederick II, stupor mundi, can be admired as he guides the flight of the falcon, with his face and the index pointed towards the ruins of the Norman Swabian castle, symbol of the political and administrative power that the city had during his reign. Is it perhaps in memory of this greatness, of this link between the king, the castle and the city, that a Lamezia sculptor has created this impressive statue, all in bronze and over 3 meters high? Observe it and then let yourself be led to where the view opens up, toward the other historic districts of Santa Lucia and San Teodoro. At sunset, the colors light up and the charm becomes even stronger.4
Terme di Caronte. Between history and wellness.
Already known in Roman times as Aque Angae, the Terme di Caronte are in themselves a place of charm where everything contributes to keep the promise of well-being. You are a stone’s throw from the beautiful Gulf of Sant’Eufemia, immersed in the greenery of a park, surrounded by the Mediterranean scrub of the Mitoio park, enjoying the beneficial properties of this spring, appreciated since the time of the Normans. The current spa is not simply a place to treat oneself; one comes to solve trivial aesthetic imperfections, or for a general remise en forme, far from the stress of city life, using cutting-edge services. Treat yourself to being pampered! Then, outside the establishment, for a few moments of low cost well-being there is the “gurna,” an outdoor pool, freely accessible all year round, where you can enjoy the sulfurous waters and its muds. Try it!5
San Teodoro. The most ancient district in Lamezia Terme
The most ancient and picturesque district, with its churches and old houses, can be seen from Via Garibaldi. Follow its roads, which climb the slope of the hill, and as you climb you reach the ruins of the Norman Swabian castle. Of its majesty, splendor and importance, only part of the walls and the robust tower that rests directly on the rocky cliff remain since the earthquake of 1783. However, what history has handed down to us does remain. Henry VI and the empress consort Constance of Altavilla stayed here, and here Frederick II imprisoned his son, the ‘rebel’ Henry VII. The view of the city that can be enjoyed from above is beautiful.
