Pizzo at a glance
Pizzo has a castle, Castello Murat, and a church in the rock on the shore, Piedigrotta. The two share a combined ticket. The town is also where the tartufo comes from, a dessert of hazelnut and chocolate ice cream, so a visit can include all three in one outing.
The church stands next to the beach on Via Riviera Prangi, on the SS 522, in the locality of La Madonnella. You can pair the visit with time on the beach.
Tickets for Piedigrotta and the castle in 2026
Published rates. Confirm the price at the ticket office.
| Ticket | Regular | Reduced | Who gets the reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piedigrotta only | €5 | €3.50 | Groups over 15, school groups, adults over 65 |
| Castle and church combined | €8 | €6.50 | As above |
Free entry is listed for children under 6, local residents, people with a disability card and their companion, and members of FAI and ICOM. FAI, Italy's national trust, also lists free entry for its own members at the church. Ask at the ticket office about children who are exactly 6. One 2026 listing gives the combined ticket 72 hours from first use, so ask how long yours is valid.
Pizzo and coast tours
Half-day trips to Pizzo, tastings and other tours from Tropea along the coast, with live prices and availability.
Piedigrotta, the church in the rock
Piedigrotta is a church worked into the rock beside the shore. Inside, you see figures carved from the stone, and the cave itself is part of the visit.
The listed hours run from 1 March to 31 October 2026, from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00. The winter schedule closes at 17:00. Check rest days, public holidays and the winter calendar before you go.
Castello Murat
The walls of Castello Murat stand in Pizzo. The castle is sold together with Piedigrotta on the combined ticket. Check the opening hours of the castle before you go.
Tartufo di Pizzo
The tartufo is the dish of the town. It is made from hazelnut and chocolate ice cream with a cocoa component and a dusting of cocoa powder. Check the price at the counter.
For other dishes of the region, from nduja to the red onion of Tropea, see the Calabria food page.
The beach at Piedigrotta
The church stands next to the beach, so the sand is the natural place for a break after the visit. Check the signs on site for swimming rules, lifeguard hours and any charges. The beach is not one of the 12 sections on our Calabria beaches page, so follow local notices.
For a longer beach day on this coast, the bays of Capo Vaticano are the next place to look.
Planning a visit to Pizzo
Four things to sort out before you go.
Tickets
Decide whether you want the church alone at €5 or the combined ticket at €8. Both are regular prices for 2026. Reduced rates are €3.50 and €6.50.
Families
Children under 6 are listed as free. A family rate also exists for parents with children aged 7 to 14: €10 for one site and €14 for both. Ask at the ticket office what applies to your family.
Timing
The listed church hours leave a break between 13:00 and 15:00. Plan the ice cream or the beach for that gap.
Arriving by public transport
From the airport, the bus part of the Airlink ticket to Lamezia Terme Centrale costs €1.80 one way, added to the train fare. The stop is about 50 m from the arrivals exit. Then take a coastal train towards Pizzo.
Getting to Pizzo by train
One example from the 2026 timetable.
A regional train leaves Tropea at 20:15, reaches Pizzo at 20:53 and continues to Lamezia Terme Centrale at 21:17. Tropea to Pizzo takes 38 minutes. It runs until 12 December 2026 and not on public holidays.
From Lamezia Terme airport you take the bus to Lamezia Terme Centrale, then a coastal train towards Pizzo. The airport page explains the bus and the fare. Check the current timetable before you go, since times change between seasons.
Combining Pizzo with other stops
Pizzo works as a day trip from the Tropea area. For the town you start from, see the Tropea page. For a stay of several nights, where to stay shows how Pizzo compares with Tropea, Scilla and Reggio. Piedigrotta lies on the shore road, which is not the same place as the old town, so check where a hotel actually is.
More from this guide
Places and pages that go with Pizzo.
Pizzo: frequently asked questions
How much is the ticket for Piedigrotta?
In 2026 the regular price is €5 and the reduced price €3.50. The combined ticket for castle and church is €8, or €6.50 reduced. Confirm at the ticket office.
Who enters Piedigrotta free?
Children under 6, local residents, people with a disability card and their companion, and members of FAI and ICOM are listed as free.
When is Piedigrotta open?
From 1 March to 31 October 2026 the listed hours are 9:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00. Check rest days and winter hours before you go.
Is the combined ticket valid on another day?
One 2026 listing gives it 72 hours from first use. Ask at the ticket office to be sure.
What is Tartufo di Pizzo?
It is a dessert of hazelnut and chocolate ice cream with a cocoa component and cocoa powder, and it is the best-known dish of the town.
How long does the train from Tropea to Pizzo take?
The example evening regional train takes 38 minutes from Tropea to Pizzo. Check the current timetable for your day.