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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.

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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

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. 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. .

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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 16thcentury 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 ZurloSoda 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

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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.

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