Cosenza
| Cosenza | |
|---|---|
| Comune | |
| Città di Cosenza | |
Panoramic View
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.svg) Cosenza within the Province of Cosenza |
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 Cosenza
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| Coordinates: 39°18′N 16°15′E / 39.300°N 16.250°ECoordinates: 39°18′N 16°15′E / 39.300°N 16.250°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Calabria |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Cosenza (CS) |
| Frazioni | Donnici, Sant'Ippolito, Borgo Partenope, Muoio |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mario Occhiuto |
| Area | |
| • Total | 37 km2 (14 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 238 m (781 ft) |
| Population (30 April 2009) | |
| • Total | 71,000 |
| • Density | 1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Cosentian (Italian: Cosentino) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 87100 |
| Dialing code | 0984 |
| Patron saint | Our Lady of the Pillar |
| Saint day | 12 February |
| Website | Official website |
Cosenza (pronounced [koˈzɛntsa] 
listen ) is a city in the Calabria region of Southern Italy. The city proper has a population of 71,000, while the urban area counts over 268,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Province of Cosenza, which has a population of around 735,000.
The ancient town is the seat of the Cosentian Academy, the second academy of philosophical and literary studies to be founded in the Kingdom of Naples (1511) and one of the oldest in Europe. To this day, the city remains a cultural hub 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.
Almost completely surrounded by mountains, Cosenza is subject to a microclimate scarcely influenced by the Mediterranean Sea, with cold winters and hot summers.
The ancient Consentia, capital of the Italic tribe of the Bruttii, was a bulwark of the Italic people against the Hellenic influences of the Ionian colonies. It was in this province that the Battle of Pandosia was fought, in which a small Italic army composed of Bruttii and Lucanians defeated Alexander the Great's uncle, Alexander of Epirus. Over the centuries, Cosenza maintained a distinctive character, which marked it out among the cities of the region. Under Emperor Augustus it became an important stopover on the Roman route via Popilia, which connected Calabria to Sicily. During the Roman Empire, although merely a colonia, the town benefited from municipal privileges.
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Wikipedia