The City of Cosenza
The city of Cosenza, situated in the valley of the river Crati, 224
meters on the sea level, is dominated by two rocky mountains, the
Pollino and the Sila. It is a medium size city in the Calabria region
with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
All around the old part of the city, which has been well preserved,
new urban quarters are growing with leaps and bounds. The banks of
the river Busento divide the old part of the city from the new.
Cosenza is the legendary and ancient capital of the “Bruzi”
whose history is closely linked to the Romans’ since the time
of the Punic wars. In the historical centre a number of famous buildings
and monuments bear witness to the taste of its civilisation, to ancient
and incorrupt traditions, to important people who contributed through
the ages to the cultural growth of Cosenza. Among the famous personages
who made Cosenza a powerful city and greatly contributed to its history
it is proper to remember Federico II, Isabella di Aragona, Bernardino
Telesio, Alarico the great Visigothic King, Aulo Giano Parrasio and
the Fratelli Bandiera.
Like all cities, Cosenza naturally has its main streets and shopping
areas. A number of theatres, museums, cinemas and disco pubs can be
found scattered around the city. In addition there are quite a few
small galleries which exhibit modern art.
The old part of the city has its special brand and charm, the streets
are full of vitality, the workshops of craftsmen hum with industry,
the many bars located in illustrious ancient palaces have changed
to pubs and snack-bars, thus adding a touch of modernity to such austerity.
Corso Telesio has recently become a very trendy and attractive place
for young people who spend there the late night hours in the pubs
or listen to the live concerts that take place in the main squares.
In
the heart of the modern part of the city you can find another important
street called Corso Mazzini, where young people flock for their evening
promenade and have drinks and food in the cafeterias and snack bars.
The shops on Corso Mazzini are well stocked and the prices and window
displays are also worthy of Rome and Milan. The numerous bookshops
are as big and as furnished as those in the Capital. At the end of
Corso Mazzini, soon after Piazza Fera, going down one of the streets
leading off the main road you will find the bus station “autostazione”.
Here a number of daily buses connect Cosenza either to almost all
villages in the province of Cosenza or to others outside the province.
Cosenza and Rende, the town where the university is built, are connected
by a frequent bus service (every hour) to the university campus.
Transport links are good: Rome is about five hours away by train,
and many of the Italian cities and places so interesting for art,
history and cultural life can be readily reached.
The seaside in Paola may also be reached in about 15 minutes’
time by trains leaving from Castiglione Cosentino Station. And then,
last but not the least, the great Sila Massif is within eyeshot, a
short drive takes you to its lakes (Cecita, Ampollino, and Arvo),
pine forests, alder groves and beech woods.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the following web
site: www.comune.cosenza.it
Historical Centre
of Cosenza
