VIBO VALENTIA

Latin Hipponium, town, capital of Vibo Valentia provincia, Calabria regione, southern Italy. It lies near the Gulf of Sant'Eufemia. It originated as the ancient Greek town of Hipponion and was praised in the 1st century BC by the Roman statesman and author Cicero. There is a museum of Greek antiquities, and ruined Greek walls can be seen outside the town. Rebuilt in the 13th century after destruction by the Arabs, Vibo Valentia was damaged by earthquakes in 1783 and 1905. Notable ancient palaces and churches include the Church of San Michele, the Baroque church Collegiata di San Leone Luca, and a 13th-century Norman castle used by the Holy Roman emperor Frederick II. An earlier name of the town was Monteleone. Vibo Valentia is now a centre for regional agriculture, with wagon- and tool-making industries and tomato canning. Pop. (1993 est.) mun., 34,943.