Vibo Valentia was a Greek colony, founded by the inhabitants of Locri and originally called Hipponion.  Temples were built to venerate Proserpina and today we can admire its ancients walls, the remains of the temples and villa Sicca (where Cicero often stayed) and those of the Roman baths. It is dominated by the mediaeval castle of Norman-Swabian  origin built on the site of an ancient acropolis, with cylindrical towers and bastions dating back to the Angevin period.  This castle has recently been restored and now houses the Museo Archeologico Statale “Vito Capialbi” (tel. 0963 43350) where we can admire numerous interesting finds, including the Orphic tablet, on which the ritual formula of the Orphic Mysteries is inscribed.