Amantea is a seaside locality
along the Tyrrhenian coast which also preserves a noteworthy
The territory of Amantea was inhabited by man since ancient
times as attested by archaeological finds.
A sanctuary in the Imbelli area (VI century BC), testifies
to the existence of Greek colonies who must have definitely
considered the strategic value of the place.
Over the past
few years tests have been carried out which try to show that
here is where the ancient and powerful City of Temesa once
stood, as cited by Homer (Odyssey, Canto I vers. 243-250).
Another voice from the past claims that the City of Clampetia,
which was overpowered by the Romans during 202 BC, should
have lay on the Amantea plain.
Once outside Roman domination, without much fuss, the present
village saw the light during the Byzantine era (VI century
AD) and appeared for the first time on the Tavole of the Anonimo
Ravennate during the VI century. Due to the strategic importance,
the Byzantines erected a fortress to hinder the Longobard
descent towards the south and named it Nepetia.
The following century, it was conquered by the Saracens (839)
who named it Al Mantiah, or more precisely, The Fortress,
and occupied it until '885 when it was reconquered by the
Byzantines led by Niceforo Foca.
It then gained major importance by also becoming an Episcopal
seat of Greek rites.
Amantea passed hands to the Normans during 1065 and lost its
Episcopal seat title in favour of Tropea (1094).
During 1269 it participated in the Ghibelline revolts against
the Angioinians, suffering siege and defeat.
Throughout the difficult years during French domination and
clashes with the Aragonese, Amantea however flourished in
commerce and became a maritime port of major importance in
southern Italy. To demonstrate this, in its maritime tradition,
it also participated in the Battle of Lepanto with thirty
men and a ship: La Luna (1571).
Amantea became an impregnable stronghold which even resisted
siege from French troops (1495) commanded by Carlo VIII, and
those of Luigi XII and the Prince of Belmonte, Orazio G. Battista
Ravaschieri (1630), who then bought Amantea for 60.000 ducats.
Three years later, its inhabitants, proud of their secular
freedom, redeemed Amantea, which then returned as part of
the Regio Demanio (Royal Estate - 1633).
In the '700s, as with other centres in southern Italy, Amantea
saw the birth of numerous religious orders which in turn founded
many convents and churches.
The centre was the pivot of the Bourbonic movement which aimed
at counteracting the ascent of Giuseppe Bonaparte to the throne
of Naples (1806). The French troops returned and besieged
Amantea, which only surrendered due to hunger. It was the
last city in Calabria to relinquish the fight (6th February
During the Second World War, the City was bombed by alliance
In the period following the war, and after a slow reconstruction,
Amantea became the seaside touristic centre it is today, developing
The musician Alessandro Longo (1864-1945) was born in Amantea.
A visit to the City
The Castle and the ancient walls of Amantea were sadly destroyed
by the French after their siege on the City and today there
are only a few ruins to mark this era.
The main monument of Amantea therefore became S. Bernardino
of Siena, a church with adjacent convent dating back to 1436.
It preserves precious statues from the '400s and '500s in
its interior. There are numerous churches to visit, among
which we'd like to mention the Church of the Jesuits and the
remains of the Medieval S. Francesco of Assisi, which enjoys
remarkable panoramic views.
Place of interest
- Resti del Castello
- Resti della cinta muraria
- Chiesa e Convento San Bernardino da Siena (1436)
- Chiesa di S. Biagio (1677)
- Chiesa del Carmine (1652)
- Chiesa di S. Maria La Pinta
- Ex Monastero delle Clarisse (1603)
- Ex Colleggio dei Gesuiti
- Chiesa di San Giuseppe (1728)
- Chiesa di S. Elia Profeta (1609)
- Ruderi di S. Francesco d'Assisi
- Palazzo delle Clarisse
- Palazzo Mirabelli (XVII sec.)
- Palazzo Cavallo Marincola (XVII sec.).
- Palazzo Florio
- Palazzo De Martino ('700)
- Casa Rurale
- La Torre
- Torre di Coreca
- Torre di Campora
- Torre della Principessa
- Oasi Blu dell'Isca
- Biblioteca-Museo Alessandro Longo
– The Amantea Carnival;
- Feast of San Giuseppe on 18th and 19th March;
- Feast of Sant'Antonio on 12th and 13th June;
- Feast of S. Antonio of Padua on 12th and 13th June; Festival
of the Monacelle in Summer.