The history of the city of Rende is linked to the legend of Arintha, a city founded by the Enotri in 520 BC. The old village is located on a hill about 480 meters above sea level, between the Surdo and Emoli rivers. Thanks to its geological conformation, the historic center was never completely fortified, but a simple wall, often formed by the same houses, interspersed with bastions and gates constituted the defense of the village that during its history was destroyed numerous times due to various earthquakes.

Palazzo Vitari is an 18th century building located in the historic center in a dominant position over the wide valley, with an original round-arched portal with geometric Greek decorations. Above the portal and along the entire facade runs a long balcony with wrought iron railings. The palace was originally part of a Poor Clare monastery. It then became a noble palace of the Vitari family in the 1950s and was purchased by the Municipality. Initially the location of an elementary school, then the municipal headquarters, it later housed a library of the University of Calabria.