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Comune di Cosenza
Panoramic view.
Panoramic view.
Coat of arms of Comune di Cosenza
Municipal coat of arms

Location of Cosenza in Italy
Country Flag of Italy Italy
Region Calabria
Province Cosenza (CS)
Mayor Salvatore Perugini
Elevation 238 m (781 ft)
Area 37 km² (14 sq mi)
Population (as of December 31, 2004)
 - Total 71,680
 - Density 1,937/km² (5,017/sq mi)
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 39°18′N, 16°15′E
Gentilic Cosentini
Dialing code 0984
Postal code 87100
Frazioni Borgo Partenope, Donnici, Sant'Ippolito
Patron Madonna del Pilerio
 - Day February 12
Website: www.comune.cosenza.it

Cosenza (Greek: Konstantia) is a city in Calabria, located at the confluence of the rivers Busento and Crathis. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Calabria ( Latin: Brutium) is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of In Italy, a Province (in Italian provincia) is an administrative division of intermediate level between Municipality ( Comune The Province of Cosenza (Provincia di Cosenza is a province in the Calabria region of Italy. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Central European Time ( CET) is one of the names of the Time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. UTC+1 is used in the following locations Central European Time West Africa Time Western European Summer Time A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Here are a list of area codes in Italy. All numbers here begin with the country code (0039 A frazione, in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a Comune; for other Administrative Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Calabria ( Latin: Brutium) is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of The Busento River is a left side tributary of the Crathis (Crati in Italian River The Crathis or Crater ( Greek:; Italian: Crati) is one of the most considerable rivers of Bruttium (modern Calabria) The municipality, with a population of around 70,000, is at the centre of a urban area which counts almost 200,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Province of Cosenza, which has a population of about 730. The Province of Cosenza (Provincia di Cosenza is a province in the Calabria region of Italy. 000.

Thanks to its cultural past, Cosenza was once known as the Athens of Calabria. Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's The Accademia Cosentina, for example, was one of the very first academies to be founded in Italy (1511). The Cosentian Academy ( Accademia Cosentina in Italian) was founded in Cosenza, Italy, by Aulo Giano Parassio in 1511 Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest To this day, the city remains an important cultural centre with museums, theatres, libraries, and the University of Calabria. The University of Calabria ( Università della Calabria, UNICAL also known as the University of Cosenza ( Università di Cosenza) is a state-run university

To call the town picturesque is to use an inadequate word. At every step, from the opening of the main street at the hill foot up to the stern medieval castle crowning its height, one marvels and admires. George Gissing, 1897

Contents

Geography

Cosenza stands 238 m above sea level in a valley between the Sila inland plateau and the coastal range. George Gissing (ˈɡɪsɪŋ November 22, 1857 &ndash December 28, 1903) was an English Novelist who wrote twenty-three Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Sila (or Italian La Sila) is the name of the mountainous Plateau and historic region located in Calabria, southern Italy The old town, overshadowed by its castle, descends to the river called in Antiquity Crathis, whereas the growing modern city lies to the north, beyond the Busento, on level ground. The Crathis or Crater ( Greek:; Italian: Crati) is one of the most considerable rivers of Bruttium (modern Calabria) The Busento River is a left side tributary of the Crathis (Crati in Italian River The old town centre is crossed by the winding Corso Telesio.

History

Origins

The ancient Cosentia, capital of the Italic tribe of the Bruttii, was a bulwark of the Italic people against the Hellenic influences of the Ionian colonies. The Bruttii ( Greek:, Italian: Bruzi were an ancient Italic people who inhabited the southern extremity of Italy, from the frontiers of Ancient peoples of Italy are all those peoples that lived in Italy (including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia) before the Roman domination Over the centuries it maintained a distinctive character which marked it out among the inner cities of the region. Under Emperor Augustus it became an important stopover on the Roman via Popilia, which connected Calabria to Sicily. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was The Via Popilia is either of two different ancient Roman roads begun in the consulship of Publius Popilius Laenas, who was better known for his attack on the Gracchi Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. During the Roman Empire, although merely a colonia, the town benefited from municipal privileges.

Alaric's legendary tomb

In 410 AD Alaric, king of the Visigoths, captured the great city of Rome and became the first foreign enemy to capture this city in over 800 years. The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East When he left Rome, Alaric had amassed a great amount of treasure from his conquest of the city.

According to the Gothic historian Jordanes,[1] Alaric left Rome and headed south with his troops. Jordanes (also Jordanis or even Iornandes) was a 6th century Roman Bureaucrat, who turned his hand to History later in life When they reached the area of Cosenza, he died. No one is certain how this happened. Some believe he contracted a disease that took his life. Others feel that his death came from an attack by enemy forces. In any case, his troops honoured their king by burying him in a tomb. This was no normal tomb. His burial place is said to have been at the confluence of the Busento and Crathis rivers. The Busento River is a left side tributary of the Crathis (Crati in Italian River The Crathis or Crater ( Greek:; Italian: Crati) is one of the most considerable rivers of Bruttium (modern Calabria) A horde of slaves were used to divert the water from the Busento, allowing them to dig a tomb large enough for Alaric, his horse and all of the treasure amassed from his conquests. Once the tomb was completed, the river was returned to its bed and the tomb covered with water. Then, to ensure that no one would reveal this location to anyone, Alaric's troops killed all of the slaves.

Norman, Hohenstaufen and Angevin period

The city's archdiocese, dating to the sixth century, is one of the most ancient and important of the region, counting more than 130 parishes. Bitterly disputed between the Saracens and the Lombards, the town was destroyed, then rebuilt around 988; only to be ravaged again in the early 11th century. Saracen was a term used by Europeans in the Middle Ages for Fatimids at first then later for all who professed the religion of Islam. The Lombards ( Latin Langobardi, whence the alternative names Langobards and Longobards) were a Germanic people originally from In the attempt to escape the devastation, the population left the town and sheltered on the surrounding hills where they built some small hamlets (still denominated casali).

By the first half of the eleventh century, Lombard Calabria became a feudal dukedom of the Normans, with Cosenza as capital. The Norman conquest of Southern Italy spanned most of the eleventh century involving many battles and many independent players conquering territories of their own The town soon rebelled against the rule of Roger Guiscard and was only recaptured after a long siege. Roger I (1031 &ndash June 22, 1101) called Bosso and the Great Count, was the Norman Count of Sicily from 1071 to 1101 Subsequently, under the Hohenstaufen rule, the town became the seat of the Court of Calabria (Curia Generale). The Emperor Frederick II had a particular interest in the town: he promoted construction and economic activities, organising an important annual fair. Frederick II ( December 26, 1194 &ndash December 13, 1250) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was a Pretender to the title

The Cathedral was rebuilt and then consecrated in 1222; in 1242, Frederick's son Henry was buried there. Subsequently, Cosenza bitterly fought against the Angevin domination, supported by the clergy. Angevin (ˈændʒəvɪn ( French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin Andegavinus from Andegavia Anjou, France) is the name applied While the uprising spread through the valley of the Crati, the town was involved in the see-sawing fight between Angevins and Aragonese. Angevin (ˈændʒəvɪn ( French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin Andegavinus from Andegavia Anjou, France) is the name applied In 1432 King Louis III of Anjou settled in the castle of Cosenza with his wife Margaret of Savoy. Louis III (1403 &ndash 12 November 1434) was titular King of Naples 1417&ndash1426 Count of Provence, Forcalquier, Piedmont Margaret of Savoy may refer to The Blessed Margaret of Savoy (1390 - 1464 Margaret of Savoy, Countess Palatine of the Rhine wife (1 When she died untimely, in 1434, she was buried in the Cathedral.

Rendano Theatre.
Rendano Theatre.

Spanish domination

In 1500, in spite of resistance, Cosenza was occupied by the Spanish army led by Captain Consalvo de Cordoba. Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba Duke of Terranova and Santangelo, also known simply as Gonzalo de Córdoba ( Italian: Consalvo di Cordova  ?During the sixteenth century the town experienced a period of expansion as the seat of the Viceroy of Calabria. At the same time its cultural importance grew thanks to the foundation of the Accademia Cosentina; among its most renowned members were Bernardino Telesio, Aulo Gianni Parrasio, the Martirano brothers, Antonio Serra and others. The Cosentian Academy ( Accademia Cosentina in Italian) was founded in Cosenza, Italy, by Aulo Giano Parassio in 1511 Bernardino Telesio (1509 - 1588 was an Italian philosopher and natural scientist For the Italian comics writer see Antonio Serra (comics Antonio Serra was a late 16th century Italian philosopher and economist in the In 1707 the Austrians succeeded the Spanish in the Kingdom of Naples, followed by the Bourbons. The Kingdom of Naples was an informal name of the Polity officially known as the Kingdom of Sicily which existed on the mainland of the southern Italian After the proclamation in 1799 of the short-lived client Parthopean Republic and a vain resistance, the town was finally occupied for the Bourbons by Fabrizio Cardinal Ruffo’s Lazzari; Cardinal Ruffo was native of the province of Cosenza. Fabrizio Ruffo ( September 16, 1744 - December 13, 1827) was an Italian cardinal and Politician, who led the

Modern Cosenza

From 1806 to 1815 Cosenza fought in an unequal struggle against French domination. Cruel suppressions characterised that period and in 1813 the town, a cradle of the Carbonari secret societies, saw many rebels executed. The Carbonari ("charcoal burners" were groups of secret revolutionary societies founded in early 19th-century Italy. The local riots of 1821 and 1837 heralded the Risorgimento. Italian Unification ( Italian: il Risorgimento, or "The Resurgence" was the political and social movement that unified different states of the Italian They were followed by the uprising of 15 March 1844, which reached its climax with the “noble folly” of the Bandiera Brothers, who were executed together with some of their followers in the Vallone di Rovito in Cosenza. Events 44 BC - Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Year 1844 ( MDCCCXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year The Bandiera Brothers (in Italian: Fratelli Bandiera) were Italian patriots Attilio and Emilio Bandiera, (1811&ndash1844 and 1819&ndash1844 In 1860, some months after the rapid and overwhelmingly heroic deeds of Garibaldi’s troops, a plebiscite proclaimed the annexation of Calabria to the new Kingdom of Italy.

Church of San Domenico.
Church of San Domenico.
Façade of the Cathedral.
Façade of the Cathedral.

Main sights

Church of San Domenico

Founded in 1448, the church combines Renaissance and Medieval elements. Its most interesting feature is the rose window defined by 16 little tuff columns. Tuff (from the Italian "tufo" is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption The wooden portal (1614) is inlaid with floral motifs, figures of saints and coats of arms.

Inside the church are works by the Cosentine painter A. Granata (late 18th century): Santa Rosa, Santa Caterina, San Ludovico, San Giacinto and San Domenico. The high altar is made of polychrome marble (1767). In the transept, there is a Deposition and a San Vincenzo Ferreri (late 18th century, anonymous). The sacristy is noted for its ribbed vault, a double lancet window with a narrow arch and a wooden choir installed in 1635.

The Cathedral

The origins of the Duomo are unknown; it was probably built in the first half of the 11th century. Duomo is a generic Italian term for a Cathedral church The formal word for a church that is presently a cathedral is cattedrale; a After an earthquake destroyed the cathedral church on 9 June 1184, rebuilding was completed by 1222 when the Duomo was consecrated by Emperor Frederick II. Frederick II ( December 26, 1194 &ndash December 13, 1250) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was a Pretender to the title In the first half of the 18th century it was covered by a baroque superstructure which obliterated the original structure and its works of art. In the first half of the nineteenth century the façade was transformed in neo-gothic style, which completely changed its character. At the end of the 19th century, Archbishop Camillo Sorgente entrusted the work to Pisanti, who recovered the original old arches and the ancient structure of the church. In the 1940s the work was finally completed. In the transept is the tomb of Isabella of Aragon, wife of king Philip III of France. Not to be confused with Elizabeth of Aragon, Isabella of Aragon (Duchess of Milan and Isabella of Aragon Princess of Asturias. Philip the Bold Philip III ( 30 April 1245 &ndash 5 October 1285) called the Bold ( French: le Hardi) was A long aisle links the Duomo to the archbishops' palace, the Palazzo Arcivescovile, which houses an Immacolata by Luca Giordano. Luca Giordano ( October 18, 1634 &ndash January 12, 1705) was an eclectic peripatetic and influential Italian late Baroque One can also admire the rare and precious Stauroteca, a gift of the Emperor Frederick II to the Duomo upon consecration. Frederick II ( December 26, 1194 &ndash December 13, 1250) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was a Pretender to the title The work was produced in the royal goldsmiths' workshops, better known as “Tiraz”, and was produced in a cultural environment which blended Muslim, Byzantine and Western cultural elements.

Monastero delle Vergini

In via Gaetano Argento stands the "Convent of the Virgins". The external part of the main entrance is made of decorated tuff, while the internal part is carved of wood. The convent contains a 16th-century painting of the Annunciation. In front of it, is the 13th-century Madonna del Pilerio attributed to Giovanni da Taranto, while on the walls are four other anonymous 16th century paintings: the Visitation, the Circumcision, the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Adoration of the Magi. In the apse is the altarpiece Transit of the Virgin (1570). The cymatium houses a painting portraying the Coronation of the Virgin, while at the base of the two columns are paintings, attributed to Michele Curia, the "Master of Montecalvario", of two unidentified saints. Cymatium, a molding on the Cornice of some classical buildings The wooden choir dates to the 17th century.

Giostra Vecchia

Old town, view.
Old town, view.

In the fifteenth century, at Palazzo Falvo the Renaissance was introduced at Cosenza, in the Giostra Vecchia. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Here are located the church and monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi. For the opera by Olivier Messiaen see Saint-François d'Assise. The Latin cross plan has a nave and two aisles. The Christian cross is the best-known Religious symbol of Christianity. In the nave stands the impressive high wooden altar built in 1700. Above it is a painting by Daniele Russo representing the Perdono d’Assisi (1618). The left aisle is home to a wooden 17th-century crucifix, the altar of the Madonna della Febbre and the statue of the Madonna with Child, in marble, dating to the 16th century. The sacristy has a painted wooden ceiling, a wooden armadio representing episodes from the Passion of Christ and pictures of saints and Franciscan monks. The stone arch is characterized by the painting of St. Francis of Paola, while on the walls are some frescoes dating to the beginning of the 15th century. Saint Francis of Paola (or Franciscus de Paula or Saint Francis the Fire Handler, 27 March 1416 &ndash April 2, 1507) was an

Hohenstaufen Castle

Hohenstaufen Castle.
Hohenstaufen Castle.
Palazzo Arnone, seat of the National Gallery.
Palazzo Arnone, seat of the National Gallery.
Open Air Museum.
Open Air Museum.
The Bather, by Emilio Greco.
The Bather, by Emilio Greco.

The Castello Svevo ("Suabian" or Hohenstaufen Castle) was originally built by the Saracens on the ruins of the ancient Rocca Brutia, around the year 1000. The Hohenstaufen was restored by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, adding the octagonal tower to the original structure, in 1239. Frederick II ( December 26, 1194 &ndash December 13, 1250) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was a Pretender to the title According to tradition, his son Henry lived in this castle,as a prisoner at his father’s command.

All signs of the ancient Saracen structure have now disappeared. In the internal cloister, the modifications made by the Bourbons in order to convert it into a prison can also be seen. The House of Bourbon is an important European Royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. The entrance-hall is covered by pointed arches with engraved brackets. A wide corridor is dominated by some fleur-de-lis from the Angevin coat of arms which contains these flowers. The fleur-de-lys (or fleur-de-lis, plural fleurs-de-lis ˌfləː(rdəˈliː (ˌfləː(rdəˈlɪs in Quebec) translated from French as "lily Angevin (ˈændʒəvɪn ( French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin Andegavinus from Andegavia Anjou, France) is the name applied A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people They are engraved on the ribbed Swabian arches.

Spirito Santo

The church of Sant'Agostino, also known as the Spirito Santo, was built in 1507 by the Augustinians. The Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430) are several Catholic Monastic orders and congregations The original portal has several inscriptions in Gothic characters. The interior has a series of paintings from the eighteenth century. Further on a narrow street leads to the so-called “Area of the Bandiera Brothers”, the Vallone di Rovito. The Bandiera Brothers (in Italian: Fratelli Bandiera) were Italian patriots Attilio and Emilio Bandiera, (1811&ndash1844 and 1819&ndash1844 Here, the insurrectional patriots of 1844 were executed by a firing squad.

Further on, is the area called Arenella, which lies on the right bank of the River Crati. The Crathis or Crater ( Greek:; Italian: Crati) is one of the most considerable rivers of Bruttium (modern Calabria) On the left side of Corso del Plebiscito, you can see the Mercato dell’Arenella, an iron structure which used to host the old town market, now used for concerts and a flea market. On the right hand side, you can admire the church of San Gaetano. Turning right, just past the church, you will reach Palazzo Arnone, where some years ago were located the courthouse and the prison. It now houses the Galleria Nazionale - National Gallery.

In the Arenella, are the Church and Monastery of Saint Francis of Paola (1510). Saint Francis of Paola (or Franciscus de Paula or Saint Francis the Fire Handler, 27 March 1416 &ndash April 2, 1507) was an The interior, with an aisleless single nave, houses the tomb of Ottavio Cesare Gaeta. On the right wall, are two 18th-century paintings: a Sacra Famiglia and Madonna con San Francesco e Sant’Agostino. On an altar, you can see a wooden statue of Saint Francis of Paola; while on the left side of the nave, on another altar, is a wooden statue of San Michele Arcangelo. The Madonna with Child in Glory and Saints Paul and Luke (1551) was painted by Pietro Negroni. Pietro Negroni (c 1505 - 1565 was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period active mainly in Naples. In the apse, a 16th century triptych made by Cristoforo Faffeo represents the Madonna and Child in glory with saints Catherine and Sebastian. At the back of the altar is a wooden choir built in 1679 by M. Domenico Costanzo da Rogliano. On the wall of the sacristy you can see remains of frescoes dating back to 1550-1600. On the vault you can see some pastels representing scenes from the life of the Saint from Paola.

The small church of San Salvatore serves the parish which professes the Byzantine-Albanian faith. Inside the nave are a wooden ceiling, some frescoes of the Apostoli, of the Salvatore and of the Madonna, as well as a splendid iconostasis. In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis (the plural is iconostases) also called the Templon, is a wall of Icons and religious paintings

In the modern part of Cosenza, in an area stretching from the pedestrianized Corso Mazzini to Piazza Bilotti, lies the open-air "Museo Mab" (Museo all'aperto Bilotti). The museum hosts a wide range of modern art sculptures that stand in the street for residents and tourists to enjoy alfresco. The sculptures were donated to the city by the Italian-American entrepreneur and art collector, Carlo Bilotti. They include Saint George and the Dragon by Salvador Dalì, Hector and Andromache by Giorgio de Chirico, "the Bronzes" by Sacha Sosno, The Bather by Emilio Greco, The Cardinal by Giacomo Manzù and various marble sculptures by Pietro Consagra. Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech 1st Marquis of Púbol (May 11 1904 &ndash January 23 1989 was a Spanish Catalan Surrealist Giorgio de Chirico ( July 10, 1888 &ndash November 20, 1978) was an influential pre-Surrealist and then Surrealist Giacomo Manzù ( December 22, 1908 - January 17, 1991 was the best known Italian Sculptor of the 20th century Pietro Consagra ( October 4, 1920 – July 16, 2005) was one of Italy's leading postwar sculptors

Museums and cultural institutions

Events and festivals

Famous historical people

Notes

  1. ^ Jordanes, De origine actibusque Getarum (551), taken up by Edward Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,, chapter 31. Aulus Janus Parrhasius (1470-1522 was a leading humanist scholar and grammarian in Italy Bernardino Telesio (1509 - 1588 was an Italian philosopher and natural scientist Pietro Negroni (c 1505 - 1565 was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period active mainly in Naples. For the Italian comics writer see Antonio Serra (comics Antonio Serra was a late 16th century Italian philosopher and economist in the Alfonso Rendano (1853 – 1931 was an Italian pianist and composer Alessandro Longo ( 31 December 1864, Amantea – 3 November 1945, Naples) was an Italian Composer Edward Gibbon ( April 27, 1737 January 16, 1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament.

External links

Dictionary

Cosenza

-proper noun

  1. Province of Calabria, Italy.
  2. Town and capital of Cosenza.
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