Malazzeni

Written sources document that the fisher borough of Pisciotta existed already since 1600.The first buildings were the warehouses (malazzeni) and became the foundations for nearly all now existing houses along the seafront. They were used as shelters for the boats otherwise exposed to heavy weather and sea storms. Furthermore, they were also used to store tools, fishing nets, goods and grocery which were needed to sustain the whole village. In at least two warehouses exist oil mills. Even nowadays some of the warehouses are storing olive oil, firewood and tools.

Step by step the seafront changed and stable houses for farmers_fishermen were built. At the beginning there were first floors and afterwards also second floors developing into the today's small sea village. It still has got the characteristics walking along the beach from southeast called Passariello to northwest called Gozzipuodi.

Generally the warehouses have a depth of about 15 meters, a barrel vault and wide arches. It shows that the structures were meant to shelter the boats. Watching closely, some of these warehouses have got on both sides two small columns on which wooden boards were fixed to further protect the boats from big waves or even rocks hurled on the sand by the sea. Inside, attached to the ceiling there are all kinds of hooks which surely were used to lift the things from the floor and keep them dry because often the sea flooded the warehouses. The floors are paved by very flat large stones called" manuchiane". Along the side walls there are smaller walls, just like benches, inclining to the end, and were used to put there the"trezzarole", (barrels containing the salted anchovies). The salted juice of the anchovies would flow out into a small channel and then directly into a small well on the floor. This juice kept the anchovies umid until they were ready for use.

These warehouses show another rare architectural peculiarity At their end there is a water cistern carved out of the rocks.

After the first berthings were built and later the harbour, the warehouses lost their importance and so were transformed into apartments, shops or restaurants. Some of them maintain their original structure and a certain flair.