COSENZA | CALABRIA

Discover Cosenza

The Calabria province of Cosenza covers a green and sunny area of our peninsula, surrounded by hills, the sea and mountains.
Called the "city of the Bruzi", Cosenza is one of the oldest Calabrian towns. Cosenza has been known since Renaissance times for its Cosentine Academy, one of the first in Europe, founded in the 16th century by the humanist Aulo Giano Parrasio.

The city of Cosenza is rich in art and culture, and officially recognised as a City of Art of the Calabria Region. Cosenza is called the capital of the Bruzi. The Bruzi were an ancient population of uncertain origin who lived southern Italy. They settled in the area of land that lies between the woods of the Sila plateau and Lao and Crati Rivers. They took economic and social control of these areas during the decline of the Greek cities. The Bruzi were subsequently dominated by the Lucani and became their shepherds. In the 4th century BC they gained their independence from the Lucani and became a federal organisation with their capital at Cosenza, formerly called Cosentia.

There are many charming small villages in the Cosenza province.
Cosenza holds the award for being the most verdant city in Calabria, and immersed in its green countryside are the communes of Castrolibero, Aprigliano and Casole Bruzio.
At Castrolibero, formerly Castelfranco, visit the “round” tower, the Clock Tower in the Chiesa Vecchia zone, and admire the beautiful facade of the Gothic church of Santa Maria della Stella.
Aprigliano is a welcoming tow full of alleyways waiting to be discovered and a name that takes us back to the time of the Bruzi. It was also the Bruzi who founded Casole Bruzio during the period of Bruzi dominance, when the inhabitants of Cosenza fled to escape the invaders of their city and settled in this area.
Rossano is a place that cannot be missed, its historic centre is embellished by the palaces of the nobility. Visit the 11th century Cathedral of Maria Santissima Achiropita.