Melissa: Crotone medieval village enclosed between sea and hills

Melissa - Melissa is a like from Crotone overlooking the Ionian Sea. Known above all for summer holidays in the coastal hamlet called Torre Melissa, it offers the visitor beautiful coasts, quiet landscapes surrounded by nature and many traditions. The contrast between the sea and the hilly landscape occupied by the vineyards makes Melissa a very special village.

The mother church is dedicated to San Nicola Vescovo, but there is also a strong presence of San Francesco di Paola to whom a chapel is dedicated. In fact, the celebrations in honor of the two saints are deeply felt by the population. In the historic center there is also the church of San Giacomo, and finally the last place of worship to mention is the church of the Udienza. Melissa's medieval past can be recognized in the castle and medieval walls, as well as in the famous Torre Melissa. The latter was a building erected for defensive purposes since most of the population was concentrated here on the coast. The most typical gastronomic products of the territory are: sardella, bean and chicory soup, macaroni with kid ragù, then caciocavallo podolico, pecorino crotonese and finally the products of the black pig (autochthonous calabrese) such as the soppressata, the sausages and nduja.