HISTORY OF PIZZO:
According to legend, Pizzo was founded at the time of the ancient Greece, but a documented information about the village and the Basilian monks living in that area dates back only to the year 1300. Read More [...]
In the 15th century, a small Aragonese fort was built in Pizzo. The strong position on the rock, the fort and the tuna fishing favored the growth of the seaside village.
For centuries, the tuna, in the early summer, reached the beaches of Pizzo, and the town became famous for its tonnare, places where the fishing nets were kept and the tuna was processed.
In 1815, Joachim Murat, King of Naples and brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte, was held prisoner in the castle and later sentenced to death. After several days of imprisonment and a trial in the main hall of the castle, he was shot on October 13, 1815, and buried in the Church of San Giorgio. The castle was named in his honor.
GEOGRAPHY OF PIZZO:
Today, Pizzo, also known as Pizzo Calabro or U Pìzzu in Calabrese, is a town of about 9,000 inhabitants in the province of Vibo Valentia, part of the Italian region of Calabria. The town is perched on a promontory, overlooking the Gulf of Sant'Eufemia. Read More [...]
Pizzo is located 28 kilometers northeast of Tropea, 32 kilometers southwest of Lamezia Terme, 83 kilometers northeast of Scilla, 105 kilometers northeast of Reggio Calabria, 300 kilometers south of Matera, 360 kilometers south of Bari, 380 kilometers southeast of Naples, and about 600 kilometers southeast of Rome.
TRANSPORT TO PIZZO:
You can get to Pizzo by plane, arriving at the Lamezia Terme Sant’Eufemia International Airport, located about 27 kilometers to the north, or at the Reggio di Calabria Tito Minniti Airport, also known as Aeroporto dello Stretto (Airport of the Strait), located about 115 kilometers to the south. Read More [...]
To get to Pizzo from the Lamezia Terme Airport, you can take the shuttle bus to the Lamezia Terme Centrale railway station, located about 2 kilometers away. The trip takes about 5 minutes, and a ticket costs 1.50€ at the ticket office or 2.50€ if bought on board. Then, from the Lamezia Terme Centrale railway station, you can take a train to Pizzo. The trip takes about 20 minutes, and a ticket costs 2.70€.
To get to Pizzo from the Reggio di Calabria Airport, you can take one of the buses 115, 118, 119 or 121-122 to the Reggio Calabria Centrale railway station. The trip takes about 25 minutes, and a ticket costs 1.50€. Then, from the Reggio Calabria Centrale railway station, you can take a train to Pizzo. The trip takes about 2 hours and a half, and the cheapest ticket costs 8.50€.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN PIZZO:
Besides the Murat Castle, Pizzo is known for its beautiful beaches, for the Baroque Church of San Giorgio, for the Church of San Rocco and San Francesco di Paola, for the Church of Piedigrotta, and for the Garibaldi Fountain. Read More [...]
When in Pizzo, remember to try the Tartufo, a large ball of ice cream filled with molten chocolate, a specific product of this beautiful Calabrian town…