Gizzeria
Gizzeria: a charming town in Calabria
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Gizzeria, an Italian town located in Calabria, in the province of Catanzaro. Its official name is Gizzerìa, but in the Catanzaro dialect it is called Jezzarìa, while in Arbëreshë, an Albanian dialect spoken in some areas of Calabria, it is called Jacari. With a population of about 5,276 inhabitants, Gizzeria has a privileged geographical position that guarantees it a charming view of the Casale stream valley and the Micatundu hill, from which one can admire the splendid sunsets with views of the Aeolian Islands.
Kitesurfing: Gizzeria's specialty
Furthermore, Gizzeria has a long coastline of about 10 km which boasts the peculiarity of having thermic winds passing through it. This coastal area is called "La Bocca del Vento" (The Mouth of the Wind) because of its geomorphological features. The winds are channeled into the land isthmus of Catanzaro and one of Italy's largest wind farms is located here. Thanks to these characteristics, Gizzeria is one of the best places in the Mediterranean to practice kitesurfing. The city hosts a stage of the European kitesurfing championship every year and, in 2015, it also hosted a stage of the world championship for the Hydrofoil and race categories.
The history of Gizzeria
The origins of the name Gizzeria date back to the Greek city of Isarros, but the territory of Gizzeria boasts many testimonies of Italic and Greek settlements in ancient times, as shown by the archaeological findings. During the Norman era, Gizzeria was a castrum of Duke Robert Guiscard and was then donated in fief to the Benedictine abbey of Sant'Eufemia. The foundation of the town dates back to around 1450, when Albanian colonists (Arbëreshë), exiles who had escaped Turkish destruction and coming from Albania in various waves, settled in the vicinity. The town was later assigned to the fief of Santa Eufemia governed by the Knights of Malta, and the inhabitants gradually abandoned the Albanian language and Orthodox rite. Later, Gizzeria was damaged by the southern Calabria earthquake of 1783. In the 19th century, during the Bourbon era, ecclesiastical privileges were limited and feudalism was abolished. Zibibbo and almonds were increasingly marketed, thus giving rise to a new economic activity. This also witnessed the social rise of a territorial bourgeoisie, the so-called "galantomini". Numerous inhabitants of Gizzeria took part in liberal movements and there were numerous episodes related to post-unity brigandage, such as that of Alessandro Toia, one of the participants in the expedition of the Thousand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Gizzeria is a town that offers a lot, between breathtaking landscapes, beaches and promenades, archaeological sites and a rich cultural history. Undoubtedly, the specialty of Gizzeria is the sport of kitesurfing, thanks to the thermic winds that hit the coast and make it a highly sought-after destination for enthusiasts of this sport. If you haven't visited Gizzeria yet, I highly recommend it, because it is definitely worth it!
