1. Gerace, the town of 100 churches

Gerace is a charming medieval village in the province of Reggio Calabria, perched on a sandstone hill more than 470 metres above sea level and about 10 km from the coast. From the heights one can admire the mountains of the Aspromonte National Park on one side and feel the maritime winds blowing in from the Ionian Sea on the other. Its strategic position is closely tied to the history of the coastal town of Locri Epizefiri: between late antiquity and the Middle Ages, repeated raids forced much of the Locrian population to move inland, so contributing to the foundation of the town.Over the centuries, Gerace became an important religious and administrative centre, with many monasteries and churches. In the 11th century, with the arrival of the Normans, the walls were reinforced and the Cathedral, still the largest in Calabria, was built. Even during Aragonese and Spanish rule, the town maintained its prestige as an episcopal seat and noble centre, becoming enriched with palaces, convents and Baroque churches. Gerace is also remembered for the anti-Bourbon uprisings of the Risorgimento. Even today, the historical centre retains its original medieval layout, which divides it into three areas: the Città Alta, the Borgo Maggiore, and the Borghetto. Its deep religious tradition earned it the nickname 'the city of 100 churches': before the year 1000, there were around 80 churches, 12 convents and 8 monasteries. After the 1783 earthquake, only 17 of these remained. Among the main religious buildings, located at the northwest end on the perimeter of the Piazza delle Tre Chiese, are the churches of San Giovannello, Sacro Cuore and San Francesco, with the adjoining Franciscan convent, among the oldest in southern Italy. Since 2015, Gerace has been listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.