Melissa and Torre Melissa

Torre Melissa, a hamlet of the town of Melissa, is 25 km from Crotone and 6 km from Ciro Marina.

It has a population of 2,200 inhabitants, in the summer with peaks of 8,000 inhabitants circa.Moderni and equipped supermarkets, butchers, delicatessens, pharmacies, grocers, fishmongers, newspaper, clothing etc ...  Torre Melissa make a seaside resort that met the needs of turist. Melissa is located on a rocky ridge two hundred fifty-six meters above sea level and is inhabited by 4705 people, occupying 5000 ha.

The first documents referring to Melissa in 1200 but have some findings as evidenced by broken pavement from the Roman period its history goes back many years before. Mentioned by Ovid in the Metamorphoses, seems to be founded by Melisseo, the king of Crete.

Others say the name comes from the greek "Melissa" bee or honey, as evidenced by the bees of his arms, according to others, yet the fame enjoyed by the sorceress Melissa. Famous for its wine that competes with that of neighboring areas, Ciro and Ciro Marina.

The City of Melissa extends from the inland hills to the coast where there is the Torre Melissa, a small but significant tourist resort which owes its fame to the Aragonese tower, and the white sands that characterize the coast. At the Aragonese tower, which includes both the museum of rural culture, a window on ancient crafts that were done by Calabrese in 800 in the early '900, and the Research Center of the typical cuisine of Calabria.

Source: www.comune.melissa.kr.it