San Giovanni a Piro

San Giovanni a Piro, whose origins can be traced back to the year 1000, is surrounded by large olive groves that extend over the slopes of Mount Bulgheria, in a truly impressive and spectacular landscape that dominates the entire Gulf of Policastro. This town played a very important role during the war of the Vespers against the Aragonese (1282-1302) and, many years later, in 1534 and 1552, it suffered heavy looting and destruction by Turkish pirates.
Precisely as a result of these facts, to better defend themselves, the inhabitants of San Giovanni a Piro built high walls around the town and the Basilian monastery, built by the monks in 990. The monastery was guided, over the centuries, by various abbots, including the humanist Teodoro Gaza that made it so famous and renowned that it became part of the heritage of the Sistine Chapel.
Nowadays, unfortunately, there is not so much left of it.
Today in the historic center of the town it is still possible to experience its original medieval layout. Walking through the cobbled streets of the village, visitors can admire buildings with splendid stone portals and balconies with beautiful railings, decorated in wrought iron.
Scario, a coastal village belonging to the town, has become one of the most beautiful seaside destinations in southern Italy, its enchanting beaches and coves that stretch out at the foot of very high rocky spurs make it a unique place to visit. Another village, the one of “Bosco”, has a great historical value as the Spanish painter José Garcia Ortega spent here the last years of his life. A museum showcases part of his repertoire.

San Giovanni a Piro, whose origins can be traced back to the year 1000, is surrounded by large olive groves that extend over the slopes of Mount Bulgheria, in a truly impressive and spectacular landscape that dominates the entire Gulf of Policastro. This town played a very important role during the war of the Vespers against the Aragonese (1282-1302) and, many years later, in 1534 and 1552, it suffered heavy looting and destruction by Turkish pirates.
Precisely as a result of these facts, to better defend themselves, the inhabitants of San Giovanni a Piro built high walls around the town and the Basilian monastery, built by the monks in 990. The monastery was guided, over the centuries, by various abbots, including the humanist Teodoro Gaza that made it so famous and renowned that it became part of the heritage of the Sistine Chapel.
Nowadays, unfortunately, there is not so much left of it.
Today in the historic center of the town it is still possible to experience its original medieval layout. Walking through the cobbled streets of the village, visitors can admire buildings with splendid stone portals and balconies with beautiful railings, decorated in wrought iron.
Scario, a coastal village belonging to the town, has become one of the most beautiful seaside destinations in southern Italy, its enchanting beaches and coves that stretch out at the foot of very high rocky spurs make it a unique place to visit. Another village, the one of “Bosco”, has a great historical value as the Spanish painter José Garcia Ortega spent here the last years of his life. A museum showcases part of his repertoire.