Pizzo

The pretty seaside town of Pizzo (sometimes known as Pizzo Calabro) is on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, southern Italy. Located in the province of Vibo Valentia, the comune is made up of a historic centre perched on the cliffside, which overlooks the Gulf of Sant Euphemia, and a wider area of modern town. The newer part of the town is built above the centro storico, along the Via Nazionale, and stretches along the coastline. Nearby to Pizzo is Calabria’s most famous tourist destination of Tropea, and from the town you are in easy reach of the beaches of the Coast of the Gods and Capo Vaticano, and can also reach destinations such as Scilla.

By air: Pizzo is very easily situated if you are travelling to Calabria by air. The region’s main airport of Lamezia Terme is just a 30 minute drive away, and offers connections across Italy and Europe to around 40 destinations in 12 countries, including Rome and northern Italian cities, as well as London, Brussels, and multiple cities in Germany and Switzerland. There are even direct flights in the main season to Toronto, Canada. From there, you can hire a car from the airport to reach Pizzo, or arrange a taxi transfer.

By train: The town’s train station is located on Pizzo’s sea front, a 15 minute walk from the marina and beach, but (especially if you have luggage) we would recommend catching a ride if you’re travelling into the main historic centre up the hill. Connections by train up and down the coast mean that you can reach Tropea and various stops along the Tyrrhenian, as well as reach Reggio Calabria or Lamezia Terme – from there providing connections to all of Italy (including Rome and Naples) and across Calabria. If you’re looking to travel to Tropea by train from Pizzo, the journey is less than half an hour, and winds along the Tyrrhenian coastline.

By car: If you’re travelling around Calabria by car, Pizzo is easy to reach, with the autostrada A2 allowing you to approach from the north or south. Journey times are approximately 4 hours from Naples and an hour from Reggio Calabria. 

The best way to explore the historic centre of Pizzo is to take the time to wander on foot and get lost in its network of streets. Walk along Via Francesca to the piazza, and around the various side streets and tiny alleyways. You can also catch a tuk tuk to whiz around the streets – particularly useful as much of the town is on a steep hill! 

If you’re hoping to explore outside of the town and take day trips around Calabria, you will likely need a car to travel around, as public transport in the region isn’t extensive. Yet parking in Pizzo’s centre can be difficult – we would strongly advise against trying to drive around on a weekend evening during August. Two parking spots within easy access to the centre include Parcheggio Papa and Parcheggio Pitaro, or you can park in various spots along the roadside. 

Useful tip for driving in Italy: White lines mark free parking, and blue lines indicate spots you have to pay for.

Pizzo is famous all over Italy for its tartufo – the ‘truffle’ ice cream chocolate and hazelnut ice cream bombe with a molten chocolate centre. You can try them in one of the many gelaterias in the town, and thousands are shipped all over Italy. Find out more about the famous dessert here.

Being situated in southern Italy and on the coastline, Pizzo enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and mild winters. This makes it a pleasant escape for many across the majority of the year. Visitors should be able to enjoy the beach from May/ June until the early weeks of October, with temperatures warm and sea temperatures over 23 °C on average.

We love visiting the town in shoulder season – with our favourite months in June and September. The weather is usually sunny yet not sweltering, and there are fewer visitors. We still smile at the (often strange to foreigners) phenomenon of the Italian August holiday which makes much of the region of Calabria an extremely busy one for the entire month. As Calabria is a popular holiday destination for Italians, and there are many Calabresi who live elsewhere who often return for the month with their families, the height of the tourist season can mean crowded beaches, restaurants, and the battle to find a parking space in old towns such as Pizzo. Therefore we’d recommend choosing the shoulder season for your visit and a more relaxed pace. As Pizzo is a town of locals, it also doesn’t shut down completely outside of the tourist season – which you will find to an extent at the neighbouring Tropea.

The hottest month of the year in Pizzo Calabro is July, with average maximum temperatures of 30 °C and lows of 21 °C. Yet the temperature remains mild throughout the year, with the coldest month in January with an average daily max of 14 °C and average lows of 5°C. As with the weather anywhere, unpredictable storms or a few cloudy days can hit at any time of year, but in general you’ll find beach weather through June to even October. The locals may be still in their jackets and scarves in April, yet a sunny day can mean those of us not used to the warm climes would be happy in a T-shirt! We’d recommend a jacket for the evening by the time you reach September, but it’s our favourite time of the year if you’re hoping for beach weather without the humid heat of August.