Calabria · Catanzaro
Gizzeria
An Arbëreshë hill village at 600 meters above the Gulf of Sant'Eufemia, with kitesurf beaches and brackish lagoons on the Tyrrhenian below.
Known for
ARBËRESHË
Founded between 1448 and 1450 by Albanian troops under Demetrio Reres, sent by Skanderbeg; the linguistic minority is protected by law 482 of 1999.
KITESURF
Gizzeria Lido is the most famous kitesurf spot in Calabria, with steady thermal winds and European championships hosted on its beach.
LAGO LA VOTA
Brackish lagoon system of about 235 hectares separating the beach from the agricultural plain, a major birding site of the Tyrrhenian coast.
When to visit
Best · May–Oct
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
The festa: Giovanni Battista, 24 June
Why come
Gizzeria sits on the Micatundo hill at 600 meters, above the Gulf of Sant'Eufemia in the northern Catanzaro province. The village, known in Arbëreshë Albanian as Jacarise, was founded between 1448 and 1450 by Albanian troops led by Demetrio Reres, sent by Skanderbeg to help the Kingdom of Naples retake Calabria; they were granted land here and stayed. The Arbëreshë linguistic minority is protected by Italian law 482 of 1999, and is still spoken in some households.
The commune drops from the hill village down to a coastal frazione called Gizzeria Lido, where Lago La Vota, a brackish lagoon system of about 235 hectares, separates the beach from the agricultural plain. The thermal winds across the Tyrrhenian have made Gizzeria Lido the most famous kitesurf spot in Calabria; the European championships have been held here. The upper village holds the church, the older houses and the Arbëreshë memory; the lower frazione holds the beach economy.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Gizzeria’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
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What to see
Lago La Vota
Brackish lagoon system of about 235 hectares along the coast between Gizzeria Lido and Falerna, protected as a regional natural reserve project area.
Gizzeria Lido
Long sandy and pebbly beach with steady thermal winds, the most famous kitesurf spot in Calabria, host to European championships.
Centro storico (Jacari)
The upper Arbëreshë village at 600 meters, with the Albanian linguistic heritage of the Reres foundation still partly alive.
Torre Mezza Praia
Old Saracen-era watchtower also known as the Torre di Moddone, on the coast above the lagoons.
Chiesa Madre
Parish church of the upper village, the historic religious center of the Arbëreshë community of Gizzeria.
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Living here
- Population 5,065
- In-betweeni
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Train station in the comune
- Nearest airport Lamezia / Reggio, 29 min drive
- Regional capital Catanzaro, 48 min drive
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 600 m
- Population: 5,065
- Surface area: 37.19 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories — ISTAT, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata — and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
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