Museums and churches

Amendolara

Catanzaro

Cosenza

Crotone

Reggio di Calabria

Rossano

Sibari

Stilo

Tropea

Vibo Valentia

Amendolara:

Vincenzo Laviola National Museum of Archaeology

This museum is located in the town of Amendolara in the province of Cosenza on Piazza Giovanni XXIII. The central nucleus of this exhibition is the Laviola collection, which documents the Hellenistic, Roman and Medieval eras. The museum contains numerous finds from burial grounds and interesting silver coins that were engraved and made in the mints of Sibari, Metaponto, and Crotone.

Catanzaro:

The Provincial Museum

This museum is located in the town of Catanzaro on Villa Trieste. The museum, situated in a building in the Public gardens, is well known particularly for its numismatic collection of over 8,000 Greek, Roman, Medieval, and modern coins. There is a particularly interesting collection of prehistoric flints and blades and various objects and utensils. There are also precious objects including a gold sheet with the "Adoration of the Magi" inscribed on it, parchments and a reliquary crosses from 1535. Amongst the paintings in the picture gallery is the "Virgin of the Broom" by Antonello de Saliba and the "Virgin with Child in Glory" by G.B.Caracciolo. There are many paintings by 15th century Calabrian artists.

Cosenza:

The Civic Museum of Cosenza

This museum is located in the city of Cosenza on Piazza XV Marzo. Here you can admire remains from various areas in the territory of ancient Cosentia, including prehistoric material such as blackvarnished pottery and bronze objects. There are also 105 oil lamps from Roman times discovered in Cerchiaradi Calabria (Cosenza) and material from the burial grounds of Cannuzze.

The cathedral of Cosenza

In the historical center, the 12th-century Cathedral, one of the most interesting and best conserved sacred buildings in Southern Italy. Reconstructed after a disastrous earthquake in 1184, it was solemnly inaugurated in 1222 in the presence of emperor Frederick II of Swabia. The facade in the original Romanesque-benedictine style, has three gothic portals and three rosewindows. The inside of the church is divided into three naves, and contains the fine chapel of the Madonna of the Pilerio, patron saint of the city, beautiful frescoes, the sepulchre of Isabel of Aragon, the sarcophagus of Meleager.

Crotone:

National Archaeological Museum

This museum is located in the city of Crotone on Via Risorgimento, 130.This museum gathers material on the history of ancient Kroton both public and private collections. The material (mostly discovered with the digs of the ancient inhabited areas) shows and testifies to the life in ancient times. Among various objects, you can admire chains, weapons, iron instruments, vases, tips, a statue of a small horse and a sitting, winged sphinx.

Reggio di Calabria:

National Museum

This museum is located in the city of Reggio Calabria on Piazza de Nava, 26. Archaeological collections from the digs carried out in Calabria since the end of the 19th century with a section of modern and medieval art. The lower floor is dedicated to underwater archaeology with anchors, amphorae, pot­tery used on board, and the famous Bronzes of Riace discovered in 1972. In the halls dedicated to prehistoric times, there is pottery of various shapes and workmanship. The second floor holds the Byzantine art section with decorative architectural ele­ments. There is also a collection of paintings, some from private collections.

Rossano:

St. Mark Oratory

The St. Mark Oratory (10th century, originally entitled to St. Anastasia) is the most ancient monument of the city and one of the best preserved Byzantine churches in Italy. It was built by St. Nilus the Younger in the 10th century for the ascetic retreats of the monks living in the tufa grottos underneath. It is a Byzantine-style edifice with rectangular Greek-cross plan, with five domes on cylindrical drums. Traces of the original wall frescoes remain.

Sibari:

National Sybaritide Archaeological Museum

The National Sybaritide Archaeological Museum, established in 1996, houses findings from the site of the big Magna Graecia colony and from all the territory under its influence. It is divided into three floors, two designed for the exhibition of the findings, whereas the ground floor is used as a deposit and restoration laboratory. Sibari Museum is organised by subject areas and divided into two sections: among the rich and varied documentation, mention must be made of the beautiful pottery dated between the VIII and the V century BC, the superb manufactured goods in gold and bronze with inscriptions, surprising Mycenaean, Bronze and Iron Age findings, the latter mostly coming from funeral apparel, magnificent bronze statuettes, exquisite jewels and the famous Kleombrotos inscription. The museum, which has historical and photographic archives, study rooms, a bar, a bookshop and facilities for the handicapped, is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except for the first and third Monday of each month. Guided tours are also available.

Stilo:

Byzantine Cattolica

The main attraction of Stilo is the Byzantine Cattolica, thought to have been built either in the 7th or the 10th century. Its elegant red brick façade, topped by four cylindrical cupolas, is visible from afar as you climb the slopes of Mt. Consolino. Inside, the church is small, austere and extremely mystical.

Tropea:

Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell`Isola

In the past it was a Benedectine sanctuary of early Middle Age origin and it was rebuilt more than once. It lies on a beach under the houses.  It preserves the famous “Black Crucifix” (XV cth.).Palace of Toraldo di Francia, via Lauro Pergamene: of XII and XVII centuries, it preserves XVIII century paintings; free entrance by appointment. Tel. 0963/61388.

Vibo Valentia:

G.B. Scalabrini National Emigration Museum

This museum is located in the city of Vibo Valentia on Corso Mannuccio Francavilla Angitola. This museum documents the phenomenon of Calabrian emigration from the 19th century to mod­ern times by means of a vast collection of letters, photographs, suitcases, trunks and objects of everyday use.

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