Calopezzati
Welcome to Calopezzati!
Are you ready to discover a place full of history and charm? Welcome to Calopezzati, a municipality located in the province of Cosenza, in Calabria, with a population of 1323 inhabitants. Here you can admire two main nuclei: Calopezzati, located at 217 meters above sea level, and Calopezzati Marina, located just 3 meters above sea level, both washed by the Ionian Sea and facing the right bank of the Trionto river.
Origins of the name
The name Calopezzati derives from ''kalos-piqos'', which means "beautiful clay vases", a tradition in which the village was skilled in the past. Other scholars believe that the name derives from the combination of the Greek words ''kalòs'' (beautiful) and ''petsades'' (leather workers). Furthermore, another hypothesis maintains that the name derives from the hospitality of the inhabitants who were inclined to put themselves in other people's shoes.
The history of Calopezzati
There is not much information on the exact date of the origins of Calopezzati. Some historians trace its origins back to the 5th-6th century and connect it to the ancient Greek city of Borea, located between the Trionto and Flumenca rivers. However, other historians hypothesize that the village was founded around the first half of the 11th century as a feudal hamlet around the monastery of San Nicola, founded by Greek monks. During the period of maximum Byzantine penetration in Calabria, it was not uncommon for monasteries to initiate the formation of inhabited centers. Unfortunately, the monks had to flee during the Muslim raids on the Ionian coast, causing the abandonment of the monastery.
The monastery was reopened by Norman politics after less than a century and a half and in 1285 it was aggregated to the Rossano Patirion. Later, the center of Calopezzati was combined with the "Cantone di Cirò" in 1779 and then included in the list of territories controlled by the "Governo di Cariati" in 1805. Finally, from 1811 to 1816, Crosia was a fraction of Calopezzati.
Points of interest
If you are looking for places with historical and artistic charm, do not miss the opportunity to visit the castle of Calopezzati. Evolved from a primitive Byzantine rock installation into a quadrangular plan fortress, the castle was reworked by the Angevins and then further developed into a real military and lordly castle under the rule of the Swabians.
In addition, the city features numerous natural landscapes, such as the Capo Rizzuto Nature Reserve, where you can admire incredible flora and fauna, and the Calopezzati Marina beach, where you can relax and enjoy the sun. Do not miss the local culinary traditions as well, such as agricultural products, dishes based on fresh fish, and local wine.
Discovering Calopezzati is a unique experience, full of history, extraordinary landscapes, and culinary traditions. Bon voyage!
