Varapodio between History, Piazzas and Bergamot

Varapodio lies on a flat plain at the foot of the Aspromonte. At the confluence of the Marro River and the Calabrò stream, the town has a clearly distinctive geographical setting; the Marro was formerly called the Metauro. If you would like to combine Italian history, piazzas, religious festivals and distinctive crafts, Varapodio offers a concentrated thematic setting for this.

History and Townscape

The first settlement of Varapodio was established in the 9th or 10th century and was originally located in the area known as “Salvatore”, about 3 km downstream from the present-day town centre, west of the Marro River. Between the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 17th century, the inhabitants of Barapodi moved uphill from the San Salvatore area to the present location; the new Varapodi was established and developed there.

After the devastating earthquake of the 18th century, Varapodio was rebuilt at the same location. The historic centre preserves many of its original decorative, structural and architectural elements. These include the fully preserved portal of Palazzo Faccioli, which bears witness to the artistic work of times gone by. The Chiesa di San Nicola was built between 1927 and 1929 and is classified as Eclectic.

The Centre’s Two Piazzas

The Fontana Asso di Coppe stands in Piazza San Nicola and is considered Varapodio’s most characteristic landmark. It was originally called “Fontana dei quattro canali”; its later name derives from its clear resemblance to the ace of diamonds in Neapolitan playing cards. In 2002, it was reconstructed to a design by the architect Santo Fedele. Piazza San Nicola is freely accessible to everyone.

The historic route along Via Umberto I, which continues Via Dogali, connects the two main squares in the centre of Varapodio: San Nicola and Santo Stefano. Piazza Santo Stefano is also freely accessible to everyone.

Festivals and Bergamot Crafts

The Feast of Madonna del Carmine is celebrated on the Sunday closest to 16 July; on the preceding Saturday, the impressive descent of the Madonna takes place. Saint Nicholas is celebrated as the town’s patron saint on 6 December. Two fixed dates connect religious traditions with Varapodio’s annual calendar.

The “tabacchiere di Varapodio” are ampoule-shaped snuffboxes made from inverted, dried bergamot peel. They are produced using a craft technique that Don Antonino De Masi learned from old farmers. BergArte in Varapodio offers guided tours of its workshop for schools and organised groups, sharing traditional and further-developed techniques for processing bergamot peel.

Planning Guidance for Your Trip

When choosing accommodation, you can plan Varapodio around your own interests: local history and architecture, the two piazzas and their festivals, or bergamot craftsmanship. This gives your travel planning a clear thematic direction before you compare suitable hotels or other accommodation.

More Places for Your Travel Planning

Brancaleone Superiore, Palmi, Stignano, Marina di San Lorenzo, Benestare, San Ferdinando, Pozzi, Stilo

For the higher-level travel overview: Reggio Calabria.