Gioi

Gioi is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. As of 2011 its population was of 1,339.

History

The comune of Gioi has a history that dates back well over 1000 years. The first permanent inhabitants may have been monks who settled there around the 11th century. The village was fortified in the 15th century, and parts of the fortifications still exist. The population peaked at about 18,000 in the mid 16th century before being decimated by a plague in 1556. A second plague occurred in 1645, after which the prosperity of the village went into long-term decline.

Geography

Located in the middle of Cilento, Gioi borders with the municipalities of Campora, Moio della Civitella, Orria, Salento, Stio and Vallo della Lucania. It counts a single hamlet (frazione), that is the village of Cardile, 6 km far from it.

Main sights

Churches

• Church of Sant'Eustachio
• Church of San Nicola
• Church of San Francesco
• Chapel of Madonna della Porta
• Chapel of Madonna dello Schito
• Chapel of Madonna della Grazie

Palaces

• Palace Conti
• Palace Ferri
• Palace Reielli
• Palace Salati

Demographics

Notable people

• Leo de Berardinis (1940-2008), stage actor and theatre director
• Armando Salati (1884-1963), Vice Consul to the United States
• Giuseppe Salati (1847-1930), author of L'Antica Gioi

Genealogy project

The Genetic Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano Project was established in 2000, and focuses on the populations of Campora, Gioi, and Cardile. Using village and church records, a pedigree of over 5000 individuals was created that spans 350 years.

See also

• Cilentan dialect
• Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park

External links

• (Italian) Comune di Gioi official website
• Genetic Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano Project
• Organized Society of Gioiesi in New Jersey