The medieval town of Gerace (Reggio Calabria) is positioned on a rocky cliff 470m above sea level, 10km from the Ionian Sea. While Greek in origin – it was founded in the 10th century by inhabitants from ancient Locri Epizefiri fleeing Saracen incursions – the town is strongly medieval in appearance with its ruined defensive tower, concentric layout of small stone streets, ancient arches and palaces with stone portals.
There are numerous churches in Gerace including the Byzantine-Norman-Romanesque Cathedral, also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, dating to the 8th century, and the Gothic Church of St. Francis, commissioned in mid 1200s by King Charles II.
The rich and multifaceted history of the town, conserved in the civic museum, can also be seen in its squares, each of which had a specific function, such as: piazza del Tocco, the Curia Civilis once the ancient setting for the local government; and piazza Tribuna, leading to the Curia Episcopalis, the base for the Bishop and diocese.
The upper part of the town has several excellent elevated viewpoints: the ruined Norman castle and the belvedere delle Bombarde, where cannons used to defend the coastline in the past were once located.
Fondazione Calabria Film Commission
Cittadella Regione Calabria — Località Germaneto — 88100 Catanzaro
Phone: +39 0961 853836
Email: info@calabriafilmcommission.it
