The town is situated in a hilly area just a few kilometres from the sea. It is connected to the coastal resort of Porto S. Paolo, which grew up in the 1960s. It was an important town in the Roman period and, according to popular legend, it was the port where the apostle Paul landed.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire is was reduced to a collection of just a few houses. However, the town began to develop again in the early 1900s.
The surrounding coastal area boasts corners of exceptional beauty, such as P. Don Diego, Costa Dorata and the coral coast. The most beautiful beach is unquestionably Porto Taverna, towards the south, a short distance from the SS 125 road.