Cosenza:

town of Calabria, situated at 238 m above the sea level; at the confluence of the Busento with the Crati, between the Tyrhenian chain and the Sila Grande it has 86,644 inhabitants. It is easily reachable by motorway A3 Salerno – Reggio Calabria and by an efficient railway line . The railway station , of recent construction , technically in the vanguard,is among the most modern in Europe. Cosenza is the town of seven hills (Triglio, Gramanzio, Gurassano, Mussano, Venneri , Veteri and Pancrazio ) like Roma. Cosenza has a very nice geographical position. It is 43 km away from the mountains and 35 km from the sea. It is the starting point for interesting excursions.

History.

Cosentia or Consentia was founded by the Brutii qnd it was their capital city. It soon welcomed elements of the Greek civilization as epigraphs and coins testify.

They are preserved in the civic museum.

In 204 before Christ Cosentia was occupied by the Romains and increased its economic importance. Since 132 before Christ the Consul Popilio Lenate opened the Popilia street that became the axle along which the whole region developed. In 410 B. C. Alarico, king of Visigoths was buried in the bed of river Busento with his treasure, so the legend tells , but nobody was able to find it , in spite of various researches.

In the VIII and IX centuries Cosenza was the seat of a Longobard king’s steward; at the end of the IX century, Cosenza was regained by the Byzantines, who were not able to defend it by the attacks of the Saracens (986 and 1009). Between 1050 and 1055 Cosenza was conquered by Robert the Guiscardo then it passed under the Angevins, that gave it important merits and they made it beautiful.

In 1442 it passed to Alfonso I of Aragona with all the rest of Calabria. Under the Spanish rule Cosenza had a quick decline but, at the end of XV century, it became one of the most active centres of the Southern cultures.

In 1799 it received the democratic ideas of Partenopea republic and it resisted bravely against the bands of Cardinal Ruffo. In Risorgimento it was one of the most restless insurrectional centres of the Kingdom of Naples.

In 1844 in the Rovito ravine the Bandiera brothers were shot. They came from Venice to Calabria to help the Calabrian «brothers». With the national union Cosenza joins the history of Italy.

The town takes part in the national events, keeps its specificity due to its civil strong position and to its strategic position in the middle of a region that passes, through the ancient Popilia street, the European culture towards the Mediterranean.

In Cosenza it is still alive the Cosentina Academy, formed in XVI century by the humanist Aulo Giano Parrasio. Bernardino Telesio , the philosopher of nature takes part in that academy in the same century. The University is innovative for the architecture of its campus, for programs of studies and seriousness in formation. It is situated in the near Arcavacata of Rende.

Places to visit:

The Cathedral, began in 1185 in Romanesque style, finished at the beginning of the XIII century with Gothic-Cistercian elements. It was inaugurated on the 30 January 1222 at the presence of Ferdinando of Svevia who , in that occasion , gave to the town a cross called «Stauroteca » now in the centre of restauration of superintendence. It is considered one of the most famous works that Calabria owns.

The inside, composed by naves, with the tombs of Telesio family, shows intact the sepulchre of Isabella of Aragona, wife of Philip III the bold, King of France and a sarcophagus of Roman age that preserves the remains of Henry III the crippled, son of Federico II. Inside the first chapel of the left nave, decorated by marble and plaster, is preserved a copy of an icon that comes back the XIII century and represents the Madonna.

Church of S. Francesco of Assisi:

The monastic complex, the convent, the church were built in 1217 and rebuilt many times: after the carthquakes and after the damages caused by the bombing of 1943. Inside it is important the chapel of S. Caterina…

The Rendano theatre:

The Rendano theatre was called «Small S. Carlo». The theatre of Cosenza was entitled to the Calabrian composer Alfonso Rendano. It was inaugurated in 1909 with the «Aida».Destroyed by bombs, it was returned to Cosentini in 1967 with the «Traviata».

The Castle.

It dominates the town from the top of Pancrazio hill. Built from Normans, maybe on pre-existing Saracen structure, it was enlarged and converted first from Federico II, later from Angevins that converted it into royal residence.

Church of S. Francesco of Paola:

Built, with its annexed convent in 1510 and rebuilt in 1720.

Church of S. Domenico: Built, with its annexed convent in 1448, it was rebuilt in XVII century. The facade has a splendid rose window in Gothic flaming style. Inside, it is notable the sevententh century chapel of Rosary with a cut out and gilded baroque ceiling

Ancient town:From Valdesi Square you can enter the historical centre,walking along Telesio Street,called till 1888”shopkeepers and jewellers street”.The tortuous street crosses the ancient area of the town.This attractive part of the build up area maintains a strong medieval touch.