Cosenza Location guide

The ancient part of this small city in Southern Italy was described by Gissing as 'contained within one glance'. Today the city has developed far beyond the boundaries of the historic centre of which this famous author spoke, but it remains the most fascinating part of Cosenza. Quaint little cottages perched on the hillside look down on the Crati and Busento rivers, whilst the landscape is dominated by the city’s castle.

Cosenza with its steep narrow streets, colours and styles of architecture is typical of the Calabria Region. It gives you the sensation of stepping back in time. Contained between the piazzas and the city gates, the city nevertheless has a modern feel even if its important past still plays a strong part in the cultural, social and political lives of the inhabitants. Away from the splendours of the past, the myths of Alarico and lavish feasts of Federico II, modern Cosenza is a lively university town. It has the capacity to surprise visitors who take the time to explore its many attractions.

Main Attractions

1. Walk along the main street, the Corso Telesio
2. Try the local cakes at the ancient cafe, Renzelli
3. Visit the Rendano Theatre for an evening of classical opera, or the Acquario Theatre for some experimental contemporary drama
4. Visit the Duomo at San Domenico, and the numerous sacred buildings in the historic centre
5. Taste the fantastic ice cream at Bar Zorro, at the beginning of Corse Telesio
6. Spend a day exploring the forests at the Sila National Park
7. A trip to Camigliatello to some fresh mountain air, and to browse the local market
8. A Visit to the Palazzo Arnone Museum
9. A dinner at Arco in the historic centre to taste local cuisine
10. A trip to the archaeological excavations at Sibari

March – Fiera di San Giuseppe
Ask anyone in Cosenza about ‘La Fiera’ and they would say that it is a true institution. Held annually for 700 years, the city is overtaken by market stalls exhibiting products from all over Italy, as well as local arts and crafts like wicker and pottery. The same weekend sees the arrival of the ‘San Giuseppe Music Festival’ so you can enjoy live performances whilst you touch, taste and are tempted by the products on display.

July – Cosenzo Rock Festival
Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan are just some of the names of bands who have played at this festival held in the picturesque setting of the historic centre under the shadow of the castle. In its tenth year, the event is a celebration of music, art, and entertainment.

Local Food
The local Cosentino cuisine is strongly linked to the mountainous area around it and differs from the rest of Calabria as it’s one of the few places not on the coast. Cured meats, ice cream and delicious desserts all feature on the menu, but the most dominant ingredient on the Cosenza menu is without doubt the chilli pepper.
Cheese lovers will find plenty of varieties on offer, to be enjoyed with local salami, sausages, and types of ham. Rosamarina is known as the 'caviar of the south', made from very young fish conserved with chilli peppers, and available in local delicatessens.
For those with a sweet tooth, you must try 'mostaccioli'. A simple base of water and honey is shaped into humorous shapes including donkeys, lambs, roosters, hearts, swords and many more, before being coated with chocolate. Lastly, try the liquorice liqueur, an outstanding product of this region.

A trip around Cosenza
'In Cosenza, you can spend wonderful days doing absolutely nothing. But why not explore with intent and purpose'. The words of the British travel writer, Norman Douglas remain a good idea today.
A starting point for this city that dates back to the 400s must be the historic centre, in the Corso Telesio, named after the famous philosopher of the same name. The street climbs up towards the Piazza Valdesi, and is lined with narrow streets which form a labyrinth of pathways, a 13th century example of town planning.
Dominating the historic centre is the beautiful 12th century Romanesque Cathedral , reconsecrated in 1222 in the presence of Federico II. Also take time to explore Piazza XV Marzo, dominated by the Palace of Prefettura and the Alfonso Rendano Theatre. From here you can follow the road that takes you up to the Portapiana and the castle.
If you get tired of the narrow climbing streets, then opt for a walk along the Corso Mazzini, in the new part of town where you can find a pedestrian shopping area and open air museum.

How to get there
By car: The A3 SA motorway runs from Reggio Calabria up towards Naples, and Cosenza is easily reached from one of the two exits, Cosenza-Nord and Cosenza-Sud. You can also reach it from the SS18 (Tirrenica) and the 106 (Jonica ).
By train: There are direct connections from the main Milan to Reggio Calabria line, which passes also through Rome, Bologna and Florence. You can also connect to the Bari-Sibari line and other local lines.
By air: The closest airport is Lamezia Terme, with connections to major European cities, served by Ryanair, Easyjet and Blu Express.