Central Calabria

<< Calabria

The Province of Catanzaro occupies the central portion of Calabria, and stretches between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ionian Sea. This territory is mostly hilly and mountainous, and features some historic sites and various seaside resorts along both coasts.

Catanzaro

Catanzaro is the capital of Calabria, and it is located at the foot of the mountains near the Ionian coast. The area near the city was colonized by the Greeks, but the modern town only emerged in the Middle Ages, and became one of the main centers for the production of silk in Europe. Catanzaro remained an important regional center, and in 1970 it became the capital of Calabria.

Catanzaro Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Santi Pietro e Paolo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e dei Santi Pietro e Paolo)

The Catanzaro Cathedral (Cattedrale di Catanzaro) is the main church of the city, originally erected by the Normans in the 12th century. The church was expanded and reworked several times, with the most recent additions being made when the cathedral was rebuilt after it was damaged during World War II. The church houses some artworks and relics.

Arts Museum of Catanzaro

Also known as: Marca

The Arts Museum of Catanzaro (Museo delle Arti di Catanzaro) is an art gallery in Catanzaro. Its collection includes numerous paintings dating between the 16th and 20th century, mostly by Italian artists. The museum often hosts exhibitions of contemporary art.

Mediterranean Biodiversity Park

The Mediterranean Biodiversity Park (Parco della Biodiversità Mediterranea) is a large park in Catanzaro. Inside the park are various attractions, including the Catanzaro Brigade Military Historical Museum (Museo Storico Militare Brigata Catanzaro), which houses exhibitions dedicated to the military history of the city between the Napoleonic Wars and World War II. The park also hosts the International Sculpture Park (Parco Internazionale della Scultura), a collection of contemporary sculptures made by Italian and international artists.

Taverna

Taverna is a small town located among the mountains north of Catanzaro. A town of ancient origins, it was destroyed and rebuilt twice.

Civic Museum of Taverna

The Civic Museum of Taverna (Museo Civico di Taverna) is a museum in Taverna, hosted in a former monastery. The museum houses a collection of paintings dating between the Renaissance and today, along with other historic artworks and objects.

Lamezia Terme

Lamezia Terme is a city located at the foot of the mountains in the Province of Catanzaro, not far from the Tyrrhenian coast. The town was formed in 1968 by the merger of the municipalities of Nicastro, Sambiase and Sant’Eufemia Lamezia. This area was inhabited by the Greeks and was known by the Romans for its hot springs, while the modern towns emerged in the Middle Ages.

Lametino Archaeological Museum

The Lametino Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Lametino) is an archaeological museum in Lamezia Terme, in what was once the town of Nicastro. The museum houses numerous findings unearthed around the city and dating between prehistory and the Middle Ages, including several Greek objects and artworks.

Borgia

Borgia is a small town located among the hills south of Catanzaro. While this town was founded in the Late Middle Ages, its territory has been inhabited since ancient times, and it hosts the ruins of a Greek and Roman city.

Archaeological Park of Scolacium

The Archaeological Park of Scolacium (Parco Archeologico di Scolacium) houses the ruins of the ancient town of Scolacium, located on the Ionian Sea in the municipality of Borgia. Founded by the Greeks as Scylletium around the 7th century BCE, it remained a small center until it developed under the Romans. This was the birthplace of Cassiodorus, a 6th-century scholar who founded a monastery and school here, known as Vivarium. The town was abandoned around the 8th century, when the population moved to the mountains. The archaeological area includes various ancient structures, including the only amphitheater found in Calabria.

Soverato

Soverato is a seaside resort located on the Ionian Sea in the Province of Catanzaro. Founded in ancient times, it remained a small center for most of its history, and only developed recently, becoming one of the most popular summer destinations in Calabria and the wealthiest town in the region.

Beach of Soverato

Soverato is known for its long sandy beach that stretches along the coast on the Ionian Sea, and its clear waters, which made it a popular summer destination. Near the beach is a tree-lined promenade and various parks.