Gerace
From its perched position on the hills,
still retains a medieval setting and charm,
enjoys a wide and panoramic view of the Ionian sea.
The urban center, in particular the ancient village,
is full of churches:
Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi
Chiesa del Sacro Cuore di Gesù
and period buildings
from various eras and architectural styles.
From Soverato, about 40 km before arriving in Gerace,
near Riace Marina,
where the famous statues of the "Riace Bronzes"
were found in the seabed,
less than 10 km inland, Villa Caristo,
upon the hills of Stignano,
certainly it's worth a visit.
Villa Caristo, a prestigious eighteenth-century residence,
is the only example of Baroque art in Calabria.
Legend has it that Villa Caristo
was built on the ruins of a Roman villa
that belonged to the Roman patrician Stenius
from which the name of the current Stignano would later derive.
This magnificent palace and the surrounding park,
real and unique jewels,
recall the ancient Vesuvian villas for style,
ornamental wealth and elegance.
Placed in a dominant position
and surrounded by gardens and fountains,
it immediately manages to draw attention
thanks to the harmony of the architectural solutions
adopted in every part of the complex.
The historic center of Stignano
has a classic medieval layout,
with splendid eighteenth-century buildings,
and the San Fili Castle,
a tower born as a defensive structure in the 16th century.
A triangular construction, with three towers at the top,
two of which on the main façade,
in stone with a rectangular base,
and the third on the opposite top,
with a pentagonal plan.
The building has two floors
and is accessed by a single flight staircase.
Inside, a staircase connects the two levels and the terrace.
The building represents
a singular case of a country residence
with the typical characteristics of a fortress.
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