Pizzo, Calabria

Comune in Calabria, Italy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pizzo, Calabria

Pizzo (Calabrian: 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.

Quick Facts U Pizzu (Sicilian), Country ...
Pizzo
U Pizzu (Sicilian)
Comune di Pizzo
Coat of arms of Pizzo
Location of Pizzo
Pizzo is located in Italy
Pizzo
Location of Pizzo in Italy
Pizzo is located in Calabria
Pizzo
Pizzo (Calabria)
Coordinates: 38°44′N 16°10′E
CountryItaly
RegionCalabria
ProvinceVibo Valentia (VV)
Area
  Total
22.34 km2 (8.63 sq mi)
Elevation
44 m (144 ft)
Population
 (31 March 2013)[2]
  Total
9,263
  Density410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
DemonymNapetini or Pizzitani (local)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
89812
Dialing code0963
ISTAT code102027
Patron saintSan Giorgio
Saint day23 April
WebsiteOfficial website
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Fishing is one of the main activities, including that of tuna and coral.

History

Summarize
Perspective

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.

Main sights

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.[3]

Demographics

More information Year, Pop. ...
Historical population
YearPop.±%
18617,703    
18718,500+10.3%
18818,086−4.9%
19019,358+15.7%
19118,072−13.7%
19217,888−2.3%
19317,755−1.7%
19368,286+6.8%
YearPop.±%
19519,498+14.6%
19619,560+0.7%
19718,626−9.8%
19819,011+4.5%
19918,512−5.5%
20018,602+1.1%
20118,885+3.3%
20218,878−0.1%
Source: ISTAT
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Climate

More information Climate data for Pizzo, Calabria, Italy , 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1895−present, Month ...
Climate data for Pizzo, Calabria, Italy , 1981−2010 normals,[a] extremes 1895−present[b]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F 57 57 61 64 72 79 82 84 79 73 66 59 69
Mean daily minimum °F 43 43 46 52 57 64 68 68 63 57 50 45 55
Mean daily maximum °C 14 14 16 18 22 26 28 29 26 23 19 15 21
Mean daily minimum °C 6 6 8 11 14 18 20 20 17 14 10 7 13
Source: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 19611990),[4][5][6] The Weather Channel[7]
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References

Notes

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