Pizzo Calabro: the Murat Castle, the Tartufo and the Costa degli Dei

Overlooking the Gulf of Sant’Eufemia, with colourful houses perched above the sea, Pizzo (Pizzo Calabro) is one of the liveliest and most delicious villages of the Costa degli Dei. Its old town revolves around Piazza della Repubblica, a living room facing the water, and around the Murat Castle, the setting of a dramatic page of Napoleonic history.

Pizzo is famous worldwide for the Tartufo, the artisanal ice cream with a dark-chocolate heart, and for the striking little church of Piedigrotta carved into the tuff at the water’s edge. Between beaches, tuna, historic gelato shops and panoramic alleys, it is the perfect stop to combine sea, history and sweetness in a single village.

The Murat Castle and the story of Joachim Murat

The Aragonese Castle of Pizzo, known as the Murat Castle, is a 15th-century fortress dominating the old town. It owes its name to Joachim Murat, king of Naples and Napoleon’s brother-in-law: after the fall of the Empire, in 1815 he tried to reconquer the kingdom by landing right at Pizzo, but was captured, tried and shot in the castle courtyard. Today the halls house a museum with wax figures and reconstructions telling of those last days, while the ramparts offer a fine view over the gulf. It is a short but intense visit, combining Napoleonic history and sea views, ideal to begin discovering the village.

The little church of Piedigrotta carved into the rock

Just outside the centre, at the water’s edge, lies one of the most unusual attractions in Calabria: the church of Piedigrotta, entirely carved into the tuff. Legend has it born from the vow of sailors who survived a shipwreck; in the 19th and 20th centuries local artists, the Barone family, enlarged it, filling it with tuff statues depicting sacred scenes and figures, creating a suggestive and at times surreal nativity of stone. To visit it is to step into a cool, dim space, among sculptures worn by time and salt. It is a short but unforgettable stop, easily reached on foot or by car from the centre of Pizzo.

The Tartufo di Pizzo and Piazza della Repubblica

The heart of Pizzo’s life is Piazza della Repubblica, facing the sea and surrounded by bars, gelato shops and restaurants: this is where you taste the famous Tartufo di Pizzo, a ball-shaped artisanal ice cream with hazelnut and a molten chocolate heart, dusted with cocoa and recognised as a De.C.O. speciality. Tradition says it was born in these very historic gelato shops, and today it is a delicious symbol known throughout Italy. Between a tartufo and a stroll, it is also worth tasting Pizzo tuna and fish dishes. The square, lively until evening, is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset over the gulf with an ice cream in hand.

How to get to Pizzo and where to stay

Pizzo is very easy to reach: it lies a few minutes from Lamezia Terme airport and from the exit of the A2 “del Mediterraneo” motorway, and is served by the railway station on the Tyrrhenian line. The old town is explored on foot, while the Marinella and Seggiola beaches are handy for a day at the sea. Thanks to its position, Pizzo is an excellent starting point to explore the whole Costa degli Dei, from Tropea to Capo Vaticano. To organise your stay between the sea, villages and flavours of Calabria, look at the availability of our holiday homes and send us a request: we will help you find the most suitable accommodation.