The town was probably built upon an ancient Phoenician settlement from the 4th century b.C., then becoming the seat of the important Roman town of "Vibo ad Siccam".
It is thought, however, that the current town was founded by Gisulfo, the last of the Lombard princes of Salerno, who had a castle built to defend the population against the Saracen pirates. The village is perched between a steep natural cliff and a tall city wall, which was once a valid defensive structure.
From 1296 to 1348 Vibonati was governed by Giovanni Ruffo di Policastro, then by Gabriele and Luciano Grimaldi and finally by the Sanseverinos, up to the “Congiura dei Baroni” of 1486, when it became an hamlet belonging to Tortorella.
The village participated in the revolution of 1828.
Today Vibonati offers its visitors the tranquility of a hill, the sea breeze and an almost intact medieval village, crossed by many narrow streets lined with ancient buildings.
On the seashore, it is possible to visit the small village of Villammare, still guarded by the sixteenth-century “Torre Petrosa”. The village of Villammare, belonging to the Municipality of Vibonati has recently experienced a good tourist development.
The town was probably built upon an ancient Phoenician settlement from the 4th century b.C., then becoming the seat of the important Roman town of "Vibo ad Siccam".
It is thought, however, that the current town was founded by Gisulfo, the last of the Lombard princes of Salerno, who had a castle built to defend the population against the Saracen pirates. The village is perched between a steep natural cliff and a tall city wall, which was once a valid defensive structure.
From 1296 to 1348 Vibonati was governed by Giovanni Ruffo di Policastro, then by Gabriele and Luciano Grimaldi and finally by the Sanseverinos, up to the “Congiura dei Baroni” of 1486, when it became an hamlet belonging to Tortorella.
The village participated in the revolution of 1828.
Today Vibonati offers its visitors the tranquility of a hill, the sea breeze and an almost intact medieval village, crossed by many narrow streets lined with ancient buildings.
On the seashore, it is possible to visit the small village of Villammare, still guarded by the sixteenth-century “Torre Petrosa”. The village of Villammare, belonging to the Municipality of Vibonati has recently experienced a good tourist development.