Calabria Review
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Cosenza

Cosenza


The city of Cosenza is the capital of the Province of Cosenza with a population of 67,270 inhabitants.

​Standing at an elevation of 238 metres above sea level, the city occupies a position between the Sila National Park to its east and the Tyrrhenian coast to its west. Catanzaro, the regional capital of Calabria is 100 kilometres south east of Cosenza. 

​Main sights in the city include the cathedral (Duomo di Cosenza) and the 13th century Swabian Castle (Castello Svevo) which sits on a hill overlooking the city centre, affording panoramic views. 
An interesting legend surrounds Cosenza: that of the Visigoth King, Alaric I. In 410 AD the Visigoths had just sacked Rome before continuing their rampage south. The king is said to have died in Cosenza of a mystery illness but the greater mystery surrounds the location of his tomb. In order to protect his vast fortune, the Visigoths decided to bury the king under the river Busento which required a large number of slaves to tirelessly divert the flow of the river before constructing the tomb. Once the king and his treasure were buried, the river was once again allowed to flow over it and the poor slaves were ruthlessly killed so that the secret wouldn't get out. 

​With such a vast treasure rumoured to be under the river, the intervening years have seen all kinds of attempts to recover it but none as yet has borne fruit. 

Cosenza has a centro storico (old town) but also a newer area and it's the latter where you'll find most of the shops and restaurants. The main square in this area is Piazza Bilotti and the main shopping street, Corso Mazzini. 

​Accommodation options in Cosenza include 5 hotels, 30 bed and breakfasts and 27 private apartments available for short stays. 

Nearby places of interest include 
Sila National Park, Rende, Paola, San Lucido and Amantea.

​Cosenza's main train station is called Stazione di Cosenza and is located at the edge of the city, around 2.5 kilometres from Piazza Bilotti; a walk of half an hour or a 7 minute taxi ride. By train you can reach the seaside towns of Paola (33 minutes) and Amantea (51 minutes) without having to change trains. 


By car you can reach the fellow provincial capitals of Catanzaro in 1 hour and 19 minutes (99 km), Vibo Valentia in 1 hour and 20 minutes (101 km), Crotone 1 hour and 42 minutes (112 km) or ​Reggio Calabria in 2 hours and 5 minutes, a journey of 187 kilometres. 

The most convenient airport for Cosenza is Lamezia Terme which is 72 kilometres away, a journey of around an hour.

Category: Major Towns & Cities of Calabria

Administrative area: Capital of Cosenza Province

Population: 67,270

Highlights: Duomo di Cosenza, Castello Svevo

Close by: ​​Sila National Park, Rende, Paola, San Lucido, Amantea

Recommended accommodation: Vescovo Rosso Hotel
Public transport: ​​Train station 2.5 km from centre, local buses

By train: ​​Paola - 33 minutes, Amantea - 51 minutes
By car: ​​Catanzaro - 1 hour 19 mins, Vibo Valentia 1 hour 20 mins

By air: ​​Lamezia Terme Airport, 59 mins by car (72 km)


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Calabria Review is part of the Italy Review network, a group of websites designed to make life easier for English-speaking travellers to Italy.
For advice on other locations in Italy please visit my websites below:
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  • Things to see in Calabria
    • Major Towns and Cities of Calabria >
      • Catanzaro
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      • Corigliano Calabro
      • Rossano
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    • Calabria by the Sea >
      • Seaside Towns of Calabria >
        • Tropea
        • Scilla
        • Pizzo
        • Praia a Mare
        • Diamante
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        • Bagnara Calabra
        • Amantea
        • Soverato
        • San Nicola Arcella
        • Roseto Capo Spulico
        • Briatico
        • San Lucido
        • Ciro Marina
        • Trebisacce
        • Cariati
        • Siderno
      • Beach Resorts of Calabria >
        • Capo Vaticano
        • Le Castella
        • Marina di Belvedere
        • Cittadella del Capo
        • Cirella
        • Vibo Marina
        • Nicotera Marina
        • Sangineto Lido
        • Catanzaro Lido
        • Ardore Marina
        • Marina di Santa Maria del Cedro
        • Bovalino Marina
        • Marina di Fuscaldo
        • Cetraro Marina
      • Beaches of Calabria >
        • Caminia
        • Tonnara di Palmi
        • Copanello
        • Cavinia
        • Marina di Zambrone
        • Sant'Irene Torre Vecchia
        • Santa Maria di Ricadi
        • Squillace Lido
        • Longobardi Marina
        • Marina di Belmonte
        • Coreca
        • Marina di Fiumefreddo Bruzio
        • Acquappesa Marina
      • Blue Flag Locations of Calabria
    • Scenic Locations of Calabria >
      • Calabria's Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia >
        • Santa Severina
        • Altomonte
        • Oriolo
        • Buonvicino
        • Stilo
        • Chianalea
        • Bova
        • Rocca Imperiale
        • Fiumefreddo Bruzio
        • Civita
        • Gerace
        • Aieta
        • Morano Calabro
        • Caccuri
      • Hill Towns of Calabria >
        • Belvedere Marittimo
        • Palizzi
        • Squillace
        • Tortora
        • Mormanno
        • Nicotera
        • Belmonte Calabro
        • Cleto
        • San Giovanni in Fiore
        • Santa Domenica Talao
        • Papasidero
        • Sorbo San Basile
      • Ghost Towns of Calabria >
        • Pentedattilo
        • Roghudi Vecchio
      • Orange Flag Towns of Calabria >
        • Taverna
    • National Parks of Calabria >
      • Sila National Park
      • Pollino National Park
      • Aspromonte National Park
    • Religious Sites of Calabria >
      • Santuario di San Francesco di Paola
      • Chiesetta di Piedigrotta
    • Archaeological Sites of Calabria >
      • Capo Colonna
      • Sybaris
  • Travel
    • Airports in Calabria >
      • Lamezia Terme Airport
      • Reggio Calabria Airport
      • Crotone Airport
    • Sea Ports in Calabria >
      • Villa San Giovanni
      • Gioia Tauro
  • Calabria Hotels
  • Calabria
    • Provinces of Calabria >
      • Catanzaro Province
      • Cosenza Province
      • Crotone Province
      • Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria
      • Vibo Valentia Province