๐ฎ๐น Pizzo (U Pizzu), also called Pizzo Calabro, is a seaport and comune in the province of Vibo Valentia (Calabria, southern Italy), situated on a steep cliff overlooking the Gulf of Saint Euphemia.
Fishing is one of the main activities, including that of tuna and coral.
History As with many other places in Calabria, Pizzo claims ancient origins. The town may have been founded by colonists from an unknown site in ancient Magna Grecia, but there is currently no documentary or archeological evidence to support this. Consequently, the history of Pizzo begins in 1300 when the existence of a community of Basilian monks, a fort, and a fishing village is documented. The name Pizzo (translated either as bird's beak or projecting point) fits perfectly with the tuffa promontory that juts out into the sea near the mouth of the river Angitola.
For centuries tuna was trapped in the beaches around Pizzo, especially in the months of May and June. Despite fading in importance over time this activity continued until the 1970s in the Centofontane area, where nets were spread to corral tuna from offshore. Ruins of the activity remain. The activity is now banned. The Piedigrotta and Prangi areas include some sea caves, and "the cave of the Saracen", although largely eroded today, was supposedly used by Saracen pirates to store booty and people captured during their raids along the coast of Calabria.
The former King of Naples Joachim Murat, who was the brother-in-law of Napoleon, was imprisoned for several days in the town's Aragonese castle and then sentenced to death. He was executed by firing squad on October 13, 1815, in the main hall of the castle and was possibly buried in the church of San Giorgio. Paradoxically, the castle is now called Castello Murat. Inside the castle is the Provincial Museum Murat.
In 1783 the town was almost destroyed by an earthquake, and it suffered some damage from the same cause in 1905.
Tourist Industry It has an old castle, built by the Aragonese in the 15th century, in which Joachim Murat, ex-king of Naples, was shot on October 13, 1815.
Other sights include the Baroque church of St. George (1632) and the cave church of Piedigrotta (17th century)
Food Pizzo is famous in the area for its Tartufo, a large ball of ice cream filled with molten chocolate.
Transport The nearest airport is Lamezia Terme Airport.
Pizzo Calabro has a population of over 9,263 people. Pizzo Calabro also forms part of the wider Vibo Valentia Province which has a population of over 162,697 people. Pizzo Calabro is situated near Vibo Valentia.
Twin Towns - Sister Cities Pizzo Calabro has links with:
๐ฎ๐น Genoa, Italy๐น๐ท Afyonkarahisar 38.75
๐ต๐น Queluz e Belas 38.755
๐บ๐ธ Placerville 38.73
๐บ๐ธ Granite City 38.717
๐บ๐ธ Citrus Heights 38.695
๐ธ๐ช Norrkรถping 16.188
๐ฆ๐น Wiener Neustadt 16.217
๐ฆ๐น Baden bei Wien 16.233
๐ต๐ฑ Waลbrzych 16.285
๐ธ๐ฎ Murska Sobota 16.166
๐ต๐ฑ Nowy Tomyลl 16.133
๐ฆ๐น Neunkirchen 16.083
๐ฎ๐น Vibo Valentia 16.083
๐ฆ๐น Tulln an der Donau 16.05
Locations Near: Pizzo Calabro 16.1667,38.7333
๐ฎ๐น Vibo Valentia 16.083,38.667 d: 10.4
๐ฎ๐น Catanzaro 16.584,38.914 d: 41.4
๐ฎ๐น Palmi 15.849,38.358 d: 50
๐ฎ๐น Cosenza 16.25,39.3 d: 63.4
๐ฎ๐น Reggio Calabria 15.652,38.113 d: 82.3
๐ฎ๐น Reggio 15.65,38.1 d: 83.6
๐ฎ๐น Messina 15.553,38.178 d: 81.6
๐ฎ๐น Corigliano-Rossano 16.633,39.567 d: 101
๐ฎ๐น Crotone 17.117,39.083 d: 90.9
๐ฎ๐น Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto 15.221,38.148 d: 105
Antipodal to: Pizzo Calabro -163.833,-38.733
๐น๐ด Nuku'alofa -175.216,-21.136 d: 17776.4
๐ฆ๐ธ Pago Pago -170.701,-14.279 d: 17213.6
๐ต๐ซ Papeete -149.566,-17.537 d: 17282.3
๐ผ๐ธ Apia -171.76,-13.833 d: 17138.7
๐บ๐ธ Hilo -155.089,19.725 d: 13451.2
๐บ๐ธ Maui -156.446,20.72 d: 13359.5
๐บ๐ธ Maui County -156.617,20.868 d: 13345.2
๐บ๐ธ Wailuku -156.505,20.894 d: 13341