Stilo - San Domenico

Stilo (Stilida) was part of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. In 982 it suffered damage from a battle between Otto II . and the Arab-Byzantine troops. The battle had begun near Crotone, but when Otto's troops thought they had won, they were placed here and defeated. Otto II died a year later from malaria in Rome.

During the Middle Ages, the coastal inhabitants moved further inland and moved to where Stilo is today. Between 1065 and 1071 Stilo resisted the Norman invasion. At that time it was fortified. Today Stilo is a small town with a population of around 2500.


The church was built in the 15th century as part of a Dominican monastery, of which only ruins remain. OIt was built over a Byzantine church.

In 1783, the monastery collapsed to its foundations during an earthquake. After being rebuilt in 1787, it became the seat of the parish. In 1927 it was closed for worship because of the collapse of the vault. It was partially rebuilt and in 1998 it was completely restored.