Cosenza (The Essential Guide to Calabria)

Cosenza is a city in the Calabria region of Southern Italy. The ancient town is the seat of the Cosentian Academy, the second Academy of philosophical and literary studies to be found in the Kingdom of Naples (1511) and one of the oldest in Europe. To this day, the city remains a cultural hub in Southern Italy, with several museums, theatres, libraries and the University of Calabria. Located at the confluence of two historical rivers, the Busento and the Crati, Cosenza stands 238 m above sea level in a valley between the Sila plateau and the coastal range of mountains. The old town, overshadowed by its Norman castle, descends to the river Crati. The modern city lies to the north, beyond the Busento, on level ground.