Crotone is a city in Calabria, southern Italy, on

the Ionian Sea. Founded circa 710 BC as the

Achaean colony of Croton (Greek: Κρωτονας;
Latin: Crotona), it was known as Cotrone from
the Middle Ages until 1928, when its name was
changed to Crotone. In 1996 it became the
capital of the newly established
Province of Crotone. As of December 31, 2004,
its population was 60,517.
• The city is located approximately 10 m height above sea level and
more than 60,000 inhabitants.
• Located on the coast jonica Calabrian, has an area is
characterized by a particular morphological diversity: surrounded
by predominantly white beaches, towards' gradually becomes hilly
hinterland. It was founded by the Greek city of Achaeans Kroton
in 709-708 BC According to Ovid, that Hercules was ordered
Miscello, son of Alemone, going on the shores of Jonio to found a
new city.
Strabo argues that, crucial for the foundation of the city, was the
'oracle at Delphi who ordered Miscello found the new city between
the head Lacinio, the river Esaro and the city of Crimisa. Crotone
reached a peak after the victory over Sibari in 510 BC when it
became the main centre of Magna Greece. In the sixth century.
BC, the city became even more famous because Pythagoras
founded his school. Today Crotone is a modern city with
foundations agricultural and industrial production. Important
were for the development of city employment large chemical
industry and the Montedison 'Enichem that were permanently
closed in the 80s. From the city remain important evidence
brought to light by the various excavations carried out in recent
years and many items are now stored in the Archaeological
Museum in the city. St. Dionysius the Aeropagita is the patron of
Crotone and is celebrated on October 9.
• Croton was long one of the most flourishing cities of Magna Grecia
. Its inhabitants were famous for their physical strength and for
the simple sobriety of their lives. From 588 BC onwards, Croton
produced many generations of victors in the Olympics and the
other Panhellenic Games, the most famous of whom was
Milo of Croton. According to Herodotus (3.131), the physicians of
Croton were considered the foremost among the Greeks.
Pythagoras founded his school, the Pythagoreans, at Croton circa
530 BC. Among his pupils were the early medical theorist
Alcmaeon of Croton and the philosopher, mathematician, and
astronomer Philolaus. The Pythagoreans acquired considerable
influence with the supreme council of one thousand by which the
city was ruled. Sybaris was the rival of Croton until 510 BC, when
Croton sent an army of one hundred thousand men, commanded
by the boxer Milo, against Sybaris and destroyed it. Shortly
afterwards, however, an insurrection took place, by which the
Pythagoreans were driven out and a democracy established.
• .
• In 480 BC,
BC, Croton sent a ship in support of the Greeks at the Battle of Salamis
(Herodotus 8.47), but the victory of Locri and Rhegium over Croton in the same year
marked the beginning of its decline. It was replaced by Heraclea as headquarters of the
Italiote League.
League. Dionysius,
Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse,
Syracuse, aiming at hegemony in Magna
Graecia, captured Croton in 379 BC and held it for twelve years. Croton was then
occupied by the Brutti,
Brutti, with the exception of the citadel, in which the chief inhabitants
had taken refuge; these, being unable to defend the place against a Carthaginian force,
soon after surrendered, and were allowed to withdraw to Locri.
• In 295 BC, Croton fell to another Syracusan tyrant, Agathocles.
Agathocles. When Pyrrhus invaded
Italy (280-278, 275 BC), Croton was still a considerable city, with twelve miles of walls,
but after the Pyrrhic War,
War, half the city was deserted (Livy 24.3). What was left of its
population submitted to Rome in 277 BC. After the Battle of Cannae in the Second Punic
War (216 BC), Croton revolted from Rome, and Hannibal made it his winter quarters for
three years; it was not recaptured until 205 or 204 BC. In 194 BC, it became the site of a
Roman colony. Little more is heard of it during the Republican and Imperial periods,
though Petronius mentions the corrupt morals of its inhabitants
• had taken refuge; these, being unable to defend the place against a Carthaginian force,
soon after surrendered, and were allowed to withdraw to Locri.
• Around 550, the city was unsuccessfully besieged by Totila, king of the
Ostrogoths. At a later date it became a part of the Byzantine Empire. About
870 it was taken and sacked by the Saracens, who put to death the bishop
and many people who had taken refuge in the cathedral. Over a hundred
years later, Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor, mounted a campaign in southern
Italy to drive them out and reduce the power of the Byzantines, but was
defeated by a Kalbid army near Cotrone on July 13, 982. Later on Cotrone
was conquered by the Normans. Thereafter it shared the fate of the
Kingdom of Naples—including the period of Spanish rule of which the 16th-
century castle of Charles V, overlooking modern Crotone, serves as a
reminder—and its successor, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which was
conquered by the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1860 and incorporated into the
new Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
• Crotone's location between the ports of Taranto and Messina, as well as its
proximity to a source of hydroelectric power, favored industrial
development during the period between the two World Wars. In the 1930s
its population doubled. Unfortunately, the two main employers,
Pertusola Sud and Montedison, collapsed. By the late 1980s Crotone was in
economic crisis, with many residents losing their jobs and leaving to find
work elsewhere. In 1996, a flood dealt a further blow to the city's morale.
Since that low point, the city has undergone urban renewal and risen in
quality-of-life rankings.
Detail excursion

Along the way it crosses Victoria via Vittorio

Emanuele where you can admire the old town
hall and the church decorated with stucco
dell'Immacolata all'interno baroque and imposing
canvases. There is also the cathedral facade
with nineteenth-style neoclassico.All 'inside a
beautiful baptismal font and a precious treasure
Our Lady of Cape column. Continuing you reach
Piazza precisely castle dominated by an
imposing castle which is the best art military
Neapolitan of 500 '. Leaving the castle and along
risorgimento way we arrive at Palazzo Zurlo-
Soda and building Galluccio.
 To visit Crotone

Piazza Pythagoras, is the most important of Crotone, and a meeting center for citizens. Surrounded
by porches built in the second half 800's, stands on the hill Knight. Continuing Via Vittoria arrive in
Piazza Duomo where we can admire the magnificent cathedral dating from the ninth century. It
was built on several occasions using materials from the Temple of Hera Lacinia. This implied a
eclecticism of styles that can be seen today in the unique architecture of this church. Sormontata
by dome and bell shaped Oriental, maintains a predominantly Baroque facade. Inside you may
notice some masonry blocks relating to the original construction, and some chapels as the main
dedicated to Our Lady of black Capocolonna, erected nell'800. Next to the cathedral is the
Episcopal Palace, built in the sixteenth century. In which are preserved some of the main badges
crotonesi bishops. Continuing the Corsican Vittorio Emanuele we come across in the building where
he established the old Town Hall. Is the front of the church, whose construction took place in
1554 and later enlarged in 1738. Inside of a single nave and is decorated with a portal with friezes
of the Baroque period. Not far from the church is the Church of the Convent of St. and Clare,
with plant'400 end but rebuilt in'700. Places within the beautiful pavement majolica Neapolitan,
and the precious body wooden 1753. Continuing Via Risorgimento Gallucci is the Palazzo, built at
the end of'800. Not far there is the eighteenth century Church of St. Joseph enriched by baroque
stucco. One of the most important buildings of Crotone is the Castle, a fortress polygonal plant,
which still keeps intact all the charm of the Middle Ages. Built for the will of the noble family Ruffo
was five towers with a circular plan. Under the domain of Charles V, the castle took on the forms
and in 1541 the new defensive structure inglobava old. Were added new ramparts and zoomed l
'architectural trim. During the Second World War was used as an antiaircraft and was partially
damaged because of the numerous earthquakes. Of Sanctuary of Hera Lacinia today is not that
a column of the temple built in about 470 BC. However, you can find the essential elements that
reveal the presence of what was considered the most important sanctuary of Magna Greece.
Many of the items found during the excavations are today preserved in the Archaeological
Museum in the city. To complete the visit of Crotone we can bear at the Museum or visit the
Galleria Comunale, rich in historical from the Castle.
The Cathedral, originally from
the 9th-11th century, but
largely rebuilt. It has a
neo-classical façade, while
the interior has a nave with
two aisles, with Baroque
decorations. Noteworthy
are a baptismal font (12th
century) and the Madonna
di Capo Colonna, the icon
of the Black Madonna
which, according to the
tradition, was brought from
East in the first years of
the Christian era
Castle of Charles V
• The 16th century
Castle of Charles V.
It houses the Town
Museum, with
findings excavated
in the ancient site
of Kroton. Notables
are also the
remnants of the
walls, of the same
century, and of
various
Capo Colonna
• A worthwhile excursion from
Crotone is to the famed
column at Capo Colonna on
Calabria's extreme eastern
point, for which you have to
drive or walk 11 km. along the
coast. The column is a solitary
remnant of a vast structure
which served as the temple
for all the Greeks in Calabria.
Dedicated to Hera Lacinia, the
temple originally possessed
48 of these Doric columns and
was the repository of
immense wealth before being
repeatedly sacked as Magna
Graecia and Hellenism itself
declined. The object of
Gissing's pilgrimage to
Crotone, and a feature of his
fevered visions as he lay on
his sick bed (he eventually
left without seeing it), it
remained forever a mirage for
him as he strained his eyes on
the Crotone seafront, as
unattainable as his attempts
• The ancient castle built on an island, with
accessibility on foot limited to a narrow
strip of land, is referred to as Le Castella.
 Food and Wine
Crotone is at the same time a seaside and agricultural town. These two aspects interlace
and produce ex­clusive gastronomic specialties such as the Mustica or the Sardella
bottled in oil and hot pepper and other spices. In Crotone and along the coast fish
cooked in several ways is a main course. The “Cavatelli”, a kind of homemade
“orecchictte” seasoned with gravy and grated ripe cheese, are a characteristic and tasty
dish. Crotone and its neighborhood are rich in vines of noble and old origins, the wines
produced are well known all over the world. They are Ciro and Melissa, two inimitable
red wines, sweet­smelling and strong table wines. Ciro has two variations: the rose and
the white wine. Ciro, the gods' wine, was offered after the Olympic games to the winners.
Among the sweets, we must remember the “pitta in chiusa”, a puff pastry flavored with
wine and filled with walnuts, raisins and candied fruits, pre­pared like a rose and baked
or fried in olive oil
 GASTRONOMY
• The kitchen of Crotone makes the most products of the
earth, as cereals, citrus fruits, olives, vegetables and fruit.
Widespread use of chili pepper, which adds a strong flavor
to foods. Among the appetizers to try the sausages and
dairy products, including the provola, fresh ricotta salata,
and the many butirro preserves, such as that of pummadori
sicchi, pipi salted, funci all'ogghio, alivi driven, sasizze, in
addition to pilchard and soppressata. Among the dishes,
include homemade pasta sauce seasoned with pork or how
cavateddri maccarruni and fish soup. Among the main
courses, the culinary tradition of Crotone offers second fish
and meat, especially pork, accompanied by delicious
contours of vegetables.
Among the desserts include the typical Pitta from Madonna
and sanguinazzu. A Christmas to prepare the Easter
crustuli while you can enjoy cuzzupa.
The dishes must be accompanied by absolutely delicious
wines: Cirò, Melissa, Hippolytus, The Valley Neto, the
Sant'Anna.
 EVENTS
• A Crotone take place during the year, many cultural and
religious events.
During the months of April and May Crotone houses the
National Motocross Championship on sand that attracts
hundreds of fans from the province and the whole
region.
Dell'Aurora The Festival is held in May. It 'a festival of
music and culture that testifies to the importance of
light for Crotonesi: the procession of Our Lady fact ends
at dawn, cosÃ as the temple of Hera was once
addressed to the east. The festival concludes with a
concert organized in the early morning hours.
In August the municipality of Crotone organizes Kroton
Jazz Festival, known musical event. Inside the Villa
Comunale are organized concerts and exhibitions of the
most famous artists of the genre.
Other festivals have to remember that of Saint
Dionysius (October) and that of Saint Lucia (December).
Among the Fairs not forget your antiques, the first
Sunday of every month and the Festival of the Kitchen
Calabrese in September.
Traditional Events
• The most traditional feasts in
Crotone are two. The first one
is the Feast of the Madonna of
Capocolonna that takes place
in spring. The second one is
the Feast of Magna Graecia
that takes place in summer.
However, the hinterland of
Crotone is rich in traditions.
The Upper Ionian of Crotone,
in fact, gives hospitality to the
Albanian community of
Pallagorio, S. Nicola del’ Alto
and Carfizzi, where year by
year old religious rites and
arbereshe events are
repeated.
•  
CRAFT

• The craft crotonese is

known for art
goldsmith.
Handicapped
goldsmiths create
magnificent jewels
often inspired style
greek and Byzantine
treated in detail and
finish.
Important including
woodworking,
ceramics, wood, of
 Gerardo Sacco
• The early history of "Gerardo Sacco" s'intreccia with that of its founder. Sacco was
born in Crotone in 1940 and started working since the age of eight years at the
barber shop a few months later, quite coincidentally, is taken as a boy in the
laboratory of a goldsmith, and here discovers his true vocation. Extremely valuable
intrigued by the material, the new job with enthusiasm, which provides an
opportunity to satisfy his thirst for knowledge and realized, creating. After learning
the rudiments of gold, Sacco decided to create their own and went to Valenza Po to
learn the techniques and processes of gold in series. At the same time, he attended
night courses at an institution of art, where it completes its training, studying art
history and perfecting his knowledge of jewelry, geometry and gemology. When, in
1969, back to Crotone and represents their craft Company, Sacco has now acquired
theoretical and practical training so that its work quality are much higher than that of
local goldsmiths and to the best national productions. Within his "school-shop", a
work by "digging" aimed at recovering their processes of the past, Sacco specializes
in gold production, which is rooted in the culture-the Great Greek, Byzantine ,
Renaissance and Baroque, in the tradition of his land and those of the Albanian
community in Calabria. The first successes In the same year, Sacco realizes his first
sample, which gets awards at national level: 10 wins premium Craft Show Goldsmith
Florence, Oscar Craft Show at the San Remo and other prizes. These awards are
made for products very different, but all characterized by a high level of originality
and quality. The fame of Gerardo Sacco is spreading rapidly in environments
goldsmiths, and even the most famous jewellers, as Van Cleef and Tiffany, appreciate
his creations. Many are beginning to imitate the production, but without being able
to emularne whimsical style and unmistakable. Sacco tackles. This unfair
competition, organizing and participating more frequently in exhibitions, both in Italy
and abroad, as alI'EXPO Lisbon, at which creates "jewels of the sea", which
subsequently artefacts will be displayed at the Biennale Sea Naples. His works are
valued at Cultural Copenhagen, the House of Culture in Brussels at the Foreign Trade
in New York and Los Angeles, Greece Magna International Association of Toronto,
Buenos Aires all'Italiana'86, Calabresi Show in the World in Melbourne and, finally,
the Museum Citade Lisbon. In Italy, Gerardo Sacco creations are exhibited in the
Museum Maniscalco Erizzi Verona, in the Museum of Scoletta Battioro St. Sta ~
 MUSEUMS
• We must visit the museums of Crotone to admire the many
testimonies of the period greek various dominations and
that the city had to endure.
The State Archaeological Museum was established in 1910
and already hosted numerous findings came to light during
finds not only sporadic, but even during regular excavation
campaigns. The exhibition is divided into two sections: the
ground floor there are artefacts that testify to the history of
the city, from prehistory to the Middle Ages, the first floor
houses the main findings from the Greek sanctuaries of
Crotone. In Museo Civico are preserved all the testimonies
of the period of the modern and medieval. The exhibition is
divided into several parts: the section of heraldry, ceramic,
armory, vintage photos and a section dedicated to ancient
artefacts found in the houses of the city
CONNECTIONS
• Crotone is well connected with the rest of the
region and with other Italian cities.
The SS. 106 is the main artery that runs along
the entire coast ion, while the SS. 107 Crotone -
Cosenza connecting the city with the various
locations of Silas.
As for the links to small distance, the rail network
is not well equipped, but on the other an
excellent bus service ensures links with other
cities and towns in the province. The rail links to
long-distance services are more efficient.
Crotone also has a good airport in the area of S.
Anna, a few kilometres from the city, in the town
of Isola Capo Rizzuto.
To reach Crotone you can also take the A3, with
exit Cosenza. It then continues on SS. 107.
Fine