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Tourists and visitors who wish to enjoy the many beauties of the city of Gerace we recommend the following route of access.
To reach the city you have to drive along State Road 111, about 10 km from Locri. As the town is divided by different units, linked by good roads, we recommend you to experience the touristic tour on foot to better enjoy the numerous architectural gems.
The excursion starts from the village, where there was the ancient Gate of Varvara and the Potter’s Shops.
The highway turns around the town on the right, an area partly founded on the rock, and it goes on till Piazza della Repubblica where is situated the lovely church of Santa Maria del Mastro, and nearby is located the ancient palace del Balzo that overlooks over the “Piana”, this one can be reached along a road that branches off the main road just beyond the eighteenth-century Church of San Giorgio. In the “Piana” you can visit two monasteries: Capuchins’s Monastery (dated back to 1534) and the Monastery of Minori Osservanti (1612) whose church is dedicated to Santa Francesca Romana, today the cemetery chapel, and nearby there is the suggestive Church of Santa Maria di Monserrato of Byzantine origin.
Leaving the so called Borgo Maggiore, following once again the state road you can reach the so called Borghetto, where across the city gate, on the left there is the Church of San Martino, which dates back to ancient age even though it was completely rebuilt after the earthquake of 1783.
Proceeding along Via Roma, you reach the so called panoramic viewpoint of Bombarde and on the left there is what remains of the "venerable St. James Hospital”, now is a private house; proceeding on Via Roma and continuing through the sixteenth century architecture of the "Sun Gate" you reach Piazza del Tocco (tocco in greek: the Assembly). Seven streets lead into Piazza del Tocco and delimitates seven blocks and building (on the left Palazzo Grimaldi-Serra, the Town Hall).
Along Via Zaleuco among palaces and magnificent portals you reach Piazza Tribuna where dominates the magnificent apsidal structure of the majestic Cathedral consecrated in 1045 in Romanesque-Norman style, it is also basilica and it was built partly on rock and partly on a Greek cross crypt although it is supposed dates back to the eighth century. Leaving the Cathedral, instead of proceeding along the Arch of Bishops you can walk through Via Caduti sul Lavoro, along which we find the nineteenth-century Church of the Sacred Heart, and soon after, in the Square of Three Churches you can see: the Church Convent of San Francesco d'Assisi in pure Gothic style (1252) and the Church of San Giovanello of the XI century, greek-orthodox church.
From here you can reach the castle along the village until you get a large open space called Baglio, citizens sheltered in case of danger. At the end of the open space you find the remains of Norman castle dating back to the eleventh century, though in bad conditions. From the castle you go back down to town in via Buonarroti, skirting the Seminar. And here, instead of returning to Piazza Tribuna you can get through the Via Gioberti admiring the thirteenth century and mullioned windows, and going ahead a series of arches, palace, churches and portals until you reach the Convent of St. Anne (1344 oldest parts). From the "Bombarde" you go down through Saint Lucia until you reach the Borgo Maggiore and it can be visited in its western half part. From Chiesa del Carmine, halfway down to San Siminio and St. Nicholas, through Via L. Da Vinci you can find Bifore of Medieval House Marvasi and the sixteenth century Loggia in Via G.Bruno. Then return to Piazza della Repubblica where our tour ends.
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