Making the most of Crotone
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Crotone has an old town and the Castel of Charles V. Nearby are Santa Severina, named among Italy's most beautiful villages; San Giovanni in Fiore, known for its abbey and Gioacchino da Fiore; and Le Castella, an ancient fishing village whose celebrated castle stands on a small isthmus connected to shore by a strip of land.
At the port, Banchina di Riva is the most popular berth. Visitors can view the huge walls of the castle of Carlo V, while the city centre is only a few hundred meters away and readily reached on foot.
The Cathedral dates originally from the 9th to 11th centuries but has been extensively rebuilt. Its façade is neoclassical, and its interior has a nave and two aisles decorated in Baroque style. Highlights include a 12th-century baptismal font and the Madonna di Capo Colonna, the Black Madonna icon said by tradition to have arrived from East in the early years of the Christian era.
The 16th-century Castle of Charles V contains the Town Museum, displaying findings excavated at ancient Kroton. Also notable are remnants of the same-century walls and several watchtowers.
Le Castella is the ancient island castle whose pedestrian access is restricted to a narrow strip of land.
Getting around
Once at Piazza Pitagora (Pythagoras square) in the city centre, it is best to continue on foot. Buses to Capo Colonna and its archaeological park run at inconvenient times, so take a taxi or perhaps the more original three-wheeled auto rickshaw, a curious and distinctive way to travel.
Money
Currency: euro
Staying connected
Italian is the language.
Internet cafés are available both in the city centre and along the waterfront.
Emergency telephone number: 112
Opening Hours and
Across Italy, most shops and businesses open Monday to Saturday around 8am until 1pm and about 4pm until 7pm. Many close on Saturday afternoons and Monday mornings; in the south, opening and closing can each be an hour later. Some northern businesses keep 9am-5pm hours for international dealings. Traditionally everything but bars and restaurants closes on Sunday, although most towns have a morning pasticceria and Sunday opening is increasingly common in large cities and tourist areas.