San Giovanni di Gerace was born around a monastery. In these valleys the Basilians had two settlements, one at San Teodoro and one dedicated to Saint John the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, in the lower part of today's village: around this last the first cluster of houses formed, and it took the saint's name. The addition «di Gerace», to tell it from others of the same name in the same province, was given to it by a decree of Victor Emmanuel II of 1863, on a proper resolution of the town council.
The village is still divided as it once was: there is the lower part, Jusu Casali, and the upper, Susu Casali, and within each the rughe, the alleys, which have kept their names — Vajuni, Palazzu, Furmali. The sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie, one of the most important in the Locride, has been built four times: begun in 1407 after an apparition, fallen in and abandoned, remade in 1649, levelled by the earthquake of 1783 and raised again, as it now stands, in 1843. The local trade was wickerwork: baskets and pannier baskets, besides cheeses.
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📅 Every year, on the first Sunday after 24 June (Madonna delle Grazie on the third Sunday of September)
On the first Sunday after 24 June San Giovanni di Gerace, a municipality of 537 inhabitants in the province of Reggio Calabria, celebrates Saint John the Baptist; on the third Sunday of September, Maria Santissima delle Grazie.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside San Giovanni di Gerace, but an easy day trip away.
