PIZZO AND THE MURAT CASTLE
The Castle of Pizzo
The Castle was built according to Ferdinando 1st of Aragona’s wishes in 1492, but the big tower
(called mastra tower) has Angioina origin (about 1380). It was built as a coastal fortress against the
raids of the Saracens and it was also used as a prison. Some structures on the upper floors , such as
the embattled parapets and the casematte situated beside the towers , were destroyed, while the rest
of the building preserves the original aspect. Once ago the Castle had a drawbridge and some
communication trenches which led out of the city.
National Monument (1892) and Museo Provinciale Murattiano (2003), the Castle is open all the
year round. It is frequently visited by thousands of tourists who can admire, in its rooms, historical
documents (including a Murattiana and Napoleonic library and a series of images about the origins
of the Castle), a permanent exhibition of costume and life sized manikins which scenographically
restore the last moments of Murat’s life: from his imprisonment, to the process until his execution.
In the big hall of the Castle there is exhibited a collection of 103 original period coins, (“Coins and
People”), which are well preserved. The careful selection of the little numismatic treasure
stimulates the journey in the South of Italy, telling different sotries about people and their families,
military fights and revolutions for 14 centuries of history. From the Tiberio’s II “Follis” (578 – 582)
to the Francesco ‘s II “10 Tornesi”(1859 –1860).
A political – historical and artistic contribution given to the citizens and visitors of the Castle,
hoping that the Mediterranean civilizations and cultures become a message of peace and prosperity
for the future generations.
The Castle is open from 9am-1pm and 3pm-7pm. On Sundays and feast days it is also open in the
evenings and during Summer until the early hours in the morning.
The famous prisoners
Many famous historical persons were imprisoned in the Castle: Antonio Centelles, Viceroy of
Naples (1466); Tommaso Campanella, philosopher (1599); Giuseppe Balsamo, Earl of Gagliostro
(1768); the Bourbon General Naselli (1799); Francesco Moscato, called the “Vizzarro”, famous
leader of the anti-French brigandage (1808); Vincenzo Ammirrà, dialectical poet from Vibo
Valentia (1848); Pasquale Galluppi, famous philosopher from Tropea; Ricciotti Garibaldi, Anita
and The Hero of the two worlds’ son (1870).
The underground passages
The underground passages of the Castle were usable until, a few centuries ago, the demographic
development and the urbanistic expansion have removed them for ever. Their exact itinerary is
unknown and their use is always a mystery which has nourished the popular fantasy, according to
somebody these passages are even long dozens of kilometres and communicate with the Castles of
Rocca Angitola and Vibo Valentia. It has been demonstrated that one branch led to the sea while
one other to Piazza della Repubblica, in the neighbourhood of Via delle Grazie where it stops. Some
traces of these underground passages have been discovered some years ago during the working
excavations for the laying of the methane pipeline.
Gioacchino Murat’s execution
The Castle is a national monument because of the historical event which happened there. In the
afternoon on Friday the 13th of October, 1815, Gioacchino Murat, King of Naples, was shot after a
brief trial. His imputation? Guilty of havig attempted to destabilize the Reign of the Due Sicilie
trying to raise Pizzo inhabitants against Ferdinando 1st, legal King of Naples. Murat, disembarked
nearby Pizzo Marina 8th October 1815, he was overwhelmed and shut into the dark cells of the
Castle. Sentenced to death he bravely faced the firing squad. Given the religious comforts by the
priest Antonio Tommaso Masdea and after writing a touching letter to his wife and his four
children, Murat presented himself to his fatal appointment asking, as his last wish, the possibility to
command the firing squad. Talking to the soldiers, he said: “My friends, you know that I’ll give you
the order to shoot; the court is too narrow so that you can fire well; aim at my chest, save my face”.
When he said “Fire” three pellets hit him and one of them, as a joke of destiny, hit his cheek. He is
buried in the Church of San Giorgio in Pizzo.
Historical Background “Pizzo 1815”
Every year in October, for Murat’s death anniversary, it’s represented the exact reconstruction of
the disembarkation, arrest and shooting with characters who wear period costumes. (see picture of
the first edition 2004 by “G. Murat” Association Onlus in Pizzo).
Gioacchino Murat
Gioacchino Murat was born in La Bastide-Fortuniere (France) on March 23, 1767. He soon showed
his rebellious temperament escaping from a seminary to volunteer to the Cacciatori delle Ardenne
regiment. His military career was excellent. He helped Napoleon several times in difficult
circumstances thank to his bravery and his resolution. His rapid and sudden attacks became
legendary and they repeated in the Egypt campaign. He married Napoleon’s sister, Carolina;
therefore he was the Emperor’s brother in law, who appointed him marshal, then prince and finally
king of Naples. Murat governed with nobility and wisdom, he thought about a united Italy. When
the great Napoleon died , Murat did all he could to save the Reign of Naples. On March 1815 he
declared war against Austria, trying to unite the Italians for the fight for their independence, but he
had to shelter in Corsica.
A further attempt to recover the reign was fatal for him. When he disembarked nearby Pizzo of
Calabria with a scant group of soldiers, he was overwhelmed by the Bourbon troops and shot on
October 13, 1815 .
Here is the last Murat’s letter to his family
“My dear Carolina,
this is my fatal hour, I’m going to die suffering my last torment: in an hour you won’t have your
husband and our children won’t have their father anymore; remember me and never forget my
memory. I’m going to die innocent, and an unjust verdict is taking my life. Goodbye my Achille,
goodbye my Letizia, goodbye my Luciano, goodbye my Luisa.
Be proud of me; I’m going to leave you in a land and in a reign full of my enemies; be
superior towards misfortunes, and don’t believe to be more than you really are, dreaming what you
have been.
Goodbye, I bless you, never curse my memory; remember that the biggest pain I feel in this
moment is to die far from my children, my wife and without having a friend who can close my eyes.
Goodbye my Carolina, goodbye my children, you receive my fatherly blessing, my loving
tears and my last kisses.
Goodbye, goodbye, don’t forget your unhappy parent.
Pizzo, October 13, 1815
Gioacchino Murat
Pizzo between history and legend
Pizzo is a town of about 9 thousand inhabitants, located in the centre of the Golfo di S. Eufemia in a
delightful position among sea, mountains, sweet-smelling orange-groves, olive-groves and
vineyards. Among all these natural beauties, the houses of Pizzo are built upon a rough cliff clung
on a jutting upland like a promontory to the sea as a prow of a ship.
From its squares, real terraces by the sea, one can see suggestive and picturesque views. The alleys
of the historical centre interlace themselves in a labyrinth of ups and downs.
Pizzo is between history and legend and it is rich in cultural traditions. In the past its name was
Napitia, derived from Napeto, leader of a tribe of Focesi. This tribe survived the Troia war and,
after a long time wandering along the Mediterranean Sea, it finally established in our coasts
attracted by its beauty .
It was a holiday place for Cicero who called his favourite beach “La Seggiola”, a resting area for
Saint Peter going to Rome and a filling station for Ulysses, as Plinio said. It suffered hard
Saracen’s attacks which destroyed it completely, and it was abandoned by its inhabitants, who
sheltered themselves by the mountains.
Napitia disappeared beneath a blanket of dry twigs and wild bushes and it was a long silence above
the ruins of that mysterious and not very well-known town. In the following centuries, ferns and
corks thickened the wood and the game increased, so much that about in 1070 Ruggero il
Normanno built a beautiful hunting mansion. In 1221 it gave hospitality to S. Antonio di Padova
returning from a journey in Africa and wandering among these places.
In 1363 the basiliani monks erected a big monastery consecrated to the Greek rite, while the coral
fisher from Amalfi built the church of Carmelo. Thanks to the demographic increase the village
became a town and through a simple toponymy realization one can understand because the sailors
called it “il Pizzo”.
In order to face the scourge of the Barbareschi, the town was walled and its sides were endowed
with towers. Its entrance was endowed with a watchtower and a drawbridge.
Now Pizzo is a modern little town, a holiday place, famous for its beaches, its suggestive inlets, its
limpid sea and its picturesque historical centre.
The beaches of Pizzo represent one of the most important attractions for tourists and occasional
visitors: during 2003, 2004 and 2005 they received the special recognition of the 4 Vele by
Legambiente and by Touring Club and they have been inserted among the 250 most beautiful
beaches in Italy.
It is included in the international tourist itineraries, thanks to its climate, its sea and the hospitality
of its people. Pizzo assures the tourists the possibility of a different holiday: a relaxing,
unforgettable and alternative holiday. They are also excellent the cooking and the famous tradition
of Pizzo homemade ice-cream.
Also excellent the cooking and the famous tradition of Pizzo homemade ice-cream. There are a
good 20 ice-cream parlours in Pizzo, therefore it deserves to be called “The ice-cream Town”.
Pizzo is also “City for Peace” since it has joined the homonym national coordination.
Among the several places to visit in the town, there is the charming little church of Piedigrotta,
completely excavated in the tuff with many statues stated in very suggestive little caves.
How to reach Pizzo
By train: Vibo Valentia-Pizzo Station F.S.
By auto: Railway A3 – Salerno-Reggio Calabria (exit Pizzo)
By plain: Lamezia Terme Airport (in 20 minutes by car)
COMUNE DI PIZZO
Tel. 0963-534289 – Fax 0963-531166
http://pizzo.asmenet.it
E-Mail:
HYPERLINK "mailto: : turisport@asmecert.it – comunepizzoturisport@virgilio.it
MURAT CASTLE
Piazza B. Musolino – Tel. – Fax 0963-532523 –
www.castellodipizzo.it
HYPERLINK "http://www.castellodipizzo.it"
MUSEO PROVINCIALE MURATTIANO
HYPERLINK "http://www.murat.it"
www.murat.it
Latitude 38° 44’ North – Longitude 16° 09’ East
Altitude m 100
Inhabitants 8.500
Far km 9 from the capital of the province: Vibo Valentia
PICTURES
1- The Castle – Nocturnal
2- The Coins Collection
3- The Murat’s process room
4- The Murattiana Library
5- Helmet of the equestrian monument, Ferdinando IV di Borbone, ( a Canova’s work), built in the
centre of the terrace called “Spunduni” in the main square.
6- G. Murat’s marble bust, made by his personal friend, the French sculptor Jean Jaques Catex and
given to the Town of Pizzo by the princess Nicole Murat from Paris in 1950
a- Murat’s ship stops in Pizzo. It’s October 8, 1815
b- Murat disembarks nearby Pizzo to recover the Reign of the Due Sicilie
c- The Bourbon troops take Murat prisoner and shut him into the castle
d- On October 13, 1815 Murat is shot saying to the soldiers: “aim at my chest, save my face”.
e- The priest Masdea confesses Murat before his execution
PIZZO, CITY FOR PEACE
(Deliberazione n. 75 – Consiglio Comunale del 30 Dicembre 2003)
A special thanks to the tourist who has chosen Pizzo, wishing that this guide can take him during
his tours to the discovery of the naturalistic and artistic beauties of our little Town. We offer to old
and new friends the quit delight of our alleys, our blue sea, our gastronomy, our famous ice-cream
and the wonderful landscape of the great and ancient beauty of the Mediterranean Sea.
There’s one more reason to come and visit our town. We have given to Pizzo the name of “City for
Peace”. The word Peace will be told everywhere.
You can also receive this word as a gift, without any difference among race, language or religious
faith; hoping that all the world can become land of Peace.