Walks
The old town on foot, your way.
Four routes built on the places of the map: from a quick one-hour loop to half a day from the Castle to the rivers. Every stop has its own page; every route opens in Google Maps so you can follow it step by step.
Choose a route
The Corso in one hour
From Villa Vecchia to Piazza dei Valdesi, along Corso Telesio and the squares beside it: the easiest walk to understand how the old town is laid out.
Half a day: from the Castle to the rivers
The most complete walk: start at the Swabian Castle, come down along the Corso and finish where the Crati meets the Busento.
Stories and legends
A short route for lovers of stories: a king said to be buried under a river, a repression, a café where the Bandiera brothers are said to have stopped, a castle with its ghost.
Workshops and flavours
A short and tasty walk: the family shoemaker's on Corso Telesio, the café trading since 1803, the Spadafora brothers' ice-cream parlour.
Walk
The Corso in one hour
From Villa Vecchia to Piazza dei Valdesi, along Corso Telesio and the squares beside it: the easiest walk to understand how the old town is laid out.
Villa Vecchia
Start with the green: the park that grew out of a monastery garden, with Viale Guicciardi dating from 1870.
about 4 min on foot · 290 m
Piazza XV Marzo
At the end of the Corso: the Teatro Rendano, the Accademia Cosentina and the Telesio monument.
about 4 min on foot · 250 m
Gran Caffè Renzelli
A historic stop: a café and pastry shop trading since 1803, with its varchiglia alla monacale.
about 1 min on foot · 70 m
Diocesan Museum
The stauroteca that, according to tradition, Frederick II gave to the Cathedral in 1222.
about 2 min on foot · 160 m
Cosenza Cathedral
The Romanesque-Gothic cathedral consecrated in 1222, home of the Madonna del Pilerio.
about 2 min on foot · 110 m
Calzoleria Salvati
A family workshop on Corso Telesio since 1958: three generations of shoemakers.
about 4 min on foot · 280 m
Antica Gelateria Zorro
The Zorro cone: the family ice-cream parlour of the Spadafora brothers, opened in the early 1930s.
about 1 min on foot · 50 m
Piazza dei Valdesi
The finish: a square that recalls the repression of the Waldensians in 1561.
Mostly flat along the Corso; a few more steps towards Piazza Duomo. Times are estimates calculated from the coordinates of the places, without stops; on Google Maps you will find the exact walking route.
Walk
Half a day: from the Castle to the rivers
The most complete walk: start at the Swabian Castle, come down along the Corso and finish where the Crati meets the Busento.
Swabian Castle
The highest point: from here the view runs over the whole old town.
about 4 min on foot · 280 m
Archi di Ciaccio
A corner that in the 16th century was called Capopiazza.
about 6 min on foot · 380 mGran Caffè Renzelli
Coffee break in the historic café on Corso Telesio, trading since 1803.
about 1 min on foot · 70 mDiocesan Museum
The stauroteca of Byzantine milieu, a gift of Frederick II according to tradition.
about 2 min on foot · 160 mCosenza Cathedral
The Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, consecrated in 1222.
about 2 min on foot · 110 mCalzoleria Salvati
A historic workshop on the Corso, since 1958.
about 4 min on foot · 280 mAntica Gelateria Zorro
The family ice cream, at the entrance of the Corso.
about 1 min on foot · 50 mPiazza dei Valdesi
A square whose name recalls the Waldensians killed in 1561.
about 4 min on foot · 280 m
Church of San Domenico
The medieval rose window and the wooden portal dated 1614.
about 4 min on foot · 260 m
Statue of Alaric
Grassino's sculpture, near the spot where the legend places the tomb.
about 3 min on foot · 180 m
Church of San Francesco di Paola
The last stop, on the north bank of the Crati: the convent founded in 1510.
It starts uphill towards the Castle and then goes down: wear comfortable shoes and, in summer, bring water and a hat. Times are estimates calculated from the coordinates of the places, without stops; on Google Maps you will find the exact walking route.
Walk
Stories and legends
A short route for lovers of stories: a king said to be buried under a river, a repression, a café where the Bandiera brothers are said to have stopped, a castle with its ghost.
Statue of Alaric
According to Jordanes the Goths diverted the Busento to bury their king Alaric, who died between 410 and 411.
about 4 min on foot · 260 mPiazza dei Valdesi
In June 1561, according to a letter of the time, four or five Waldensians were burned here.
about 9 min on foot · 590 mGran Caffè Renzelli
It is told that the Bandiera brothers stopped here before their execution in 1844.
about 7 min on foot · 430 mSwabian Castle
It is said that Isabella of Aragon still wanders its walls at night.
It ends with the climb to the Castle: keep it for last, when the heat is lower. Times are estimates calculated from the coordinates of the places, without stops; on Google Maps you will find the exact walking route.
Walk
Workshops and flavours
A short and tasty walk: the family shoemaker's on Corso Telesio, the café trading since 1803, the Spadafora brothers' ice-cream parlour.
Gran Caffè Renzelli
Trading since 1803, still run by the same family.
about 4 min on foot · 280 mCalzoleria Salvati
Three generations of shoemakers, on Corso Telesio since 1958.
about 4 min on foot · 280 mAntica Gelateria Zorro
Family ice cream since the early 1930s, at the entrance of the Corso.
Check opening hours before you go: the workshops keep their own time. Times are estimates calculated from the coordinates of the places, without stops; on Google Maps you will find the exact walking route.
Do you know a route, a workshop or a corner we should tell?
Write to us: the best suggestions become new stops.