Church of the Rosary and 14th-century De Sirica–Crispo Chapel

The Church of Maria SS. del Rosario is one of the most significant places in Vibo Valentia for those seeking an authentic blend of medieval history, sacred art and popular tradition. The complex's origins date to the thirteenth century: in 1284 the Friars Minor obtained from Charles I of Anjou a plot of land where they began the construction of the convent and church, completed in 1337 under Robert of Anjou. The church interior is in Baroque taste with a single nave, side altars and ornate decorations. Key artworks include works attributed to Giulio Rubino, a Madonna of the Rosary by Emanuele Paparo and a Saint Vitus by Domenico Basile (1745). What makes this complex even more unique is its link with Vibo Valentia's most cherished traditions: it houses wooden statues and works related to the rites of Holy Week, and in particular the famous "Affruntata", the Easter Sunday procession. Alongside the church stands the extraordinary De Sirica Chapel, dedicated to Saint Catherine, considered one of the finest examples of southern Gothic in the city. It houses the sarcophagus of Domenico De Sirica, dated 1343, and numerous medieval lapidary elements, making it a small "stone memory" of medieval Vibo.