It borders the following municipalities: Ciminà, Molochio, Oppido Mamertina, Platì, Taurianova, Terranova Sappo Minulio.

Another theory put forward by Don Antonino Di Masi is that the name is derived from the local river called Marro.

It was later called Barapodi by the local Greek-speaking Orthodox Christians who inhabited the town, then to the Latinised Baropedium during the 14th to 16th centuries.

By the 17th century, the town had shifted to its present location, where there were already a few established churches founded by the Augustinian Fathers.

Today, agriculture is still the driving force behind the economy of the town, although industry is present with factories specializing in processing oranges and olives.