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, with its old town and the Castel of Charles V. Santa Severina, named among the most beautiful Italian villages. San Giovanni in Fiore, famous for its abbey and Gioacchino da Fiore. And finally Le Castella, an ancient fishing village well known for its castle that actually sits on a small isthmus anchored to the shore by a strip of land.
Down at the port, the most popular docking point is the Banchina di Riva, from which visitors can admire the massive walls of the castle of Carlo V. From here, the city center is just a few hundred meters away and can easily be reached on foot.
The Cathedral, originally from the 9th to 11th centuries, but largely rebuilt. It has a neoclassical façade, while the interior has a nave with two aisles, with Baroque decorations. Noteworthies 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.
The 16th-century Castle of Charles V. It houses the Town Museum, with findings excavated in the ancient site of Kroton. Notable is also the remnants of the walls, of the same century, and of various watchtowers.
The ancient castle built on an island, with accessibility on foot limited to a narrow strip of land, is referred to as Le Castella.
Getting around
After having reached Piazza Pitagora (Pythagoras square), at the center of the city, it’s best to continue on foot. To get to Capo Colonna and visit the archaeological park, buses don’t run at the most convenient times, so it is recommended to take a taxi, or even perhaps another more original means of transport: the three-wheeled auto rickshaw is certainly a curious and unique way to get around!
Money
euro
Staying connected
Language: Italian.
Internet cafés can be found both in the city center, as well as at the waterfront.
Emergency number: 112
Opening Hours and
Most shops and businesses in Italy open from Monday to Saturday from around 8am until 1pm, and from about 4pm until 7pm, though many shops close on Saturday afternoons and Monday mornings, and in the south, the day can begin and end an hour later. In the north, some businesses work to a 9am-5pm day to facilitate international dealings. Traditionally, everything except bars and restaurants closes on Sunday, though most towns have a pasticceria open in the mornings, while in large cities and tourist areas, Sunday opening is becoming more common.