Cosenza

[claire tudge]

Have only taken the train to Scalea from Rome/Naples and was thinking of travelling south for a change anyone been to Cosenza or anywhere else they could recommend ?

[bella_ciao]

Hi,
We visited Cosenza briefly on our trip to Calabria last year and I would think it would be fairly straightforward to get to by train. In fact it would probably be less problematic than we found it by car, even though our relatives took us there. I would advise anyone arriving by car to avoid the city centre at around 4.00 pm, when everything comes to life again because we found the parking problem to be stressful and rather fraught. We wanted to leave at that time, so we already had a parking space, but people were hanging around waiting to take it, while we stood outside waiting for our driver to return, and motorists' tempers were getting frayed.
It struck me as a very interesting place which was full of history but, unfortunately, we didn't get the opportunity to do much exploring. I would suggest taking a map and tourist's guide with you to help you to find your way around.
I do know that others on this forum have visited Cosenza and would be able to offer more detailed information about the city and places of interest to visit, etc. We tried to visit the museum but it was closed for refurbishment - you'd need a day to explore, I would say, but we only had a couple of hours.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
Ciao,
Frances.

[Mrs Teapot]

Claire - almost - I researched it like mad. I wanted to take a ye olde fashioned train up to the Sila then get on the steam train up there. Looks gorgeous but info scant. Am told it doesnt always run. So decided against a trip to Cosenza. However, if you look on Virtual Tourist someone has done a stage by stage advice piece around Cosenza. It sounds fab!

Let us know how you get on. I'd love a trip report.

Mrs Teapot x

[claire tudge]

The train from Scalea to Cosenza take an hour and twenty and seems to run frequently and is reasonably priced will be going in july as we are over for a fortnight will post our experiences thanks for the replies much appreciated

[truffles]

We visited Cosenza by rail last year from Marcellina and it was an easy trip. The station is a bit out of the centre so you need to get a bus in, the buses leave from the station forecourt and you are best getting off at the old station in the centre. The modern centre has quite a few shops etc but avoid Mondays when most are closed. The old town is reasonably small but worth a look round and is just a short walk from the centre. My preference is by car as you can combine it with a trip to the nearby Sila national park for places such as Camigliatello Silano. There is also a large Carrefour and other stores including a decent size DIY store on the road out of Cosenza towards the Sila.
Hope this helps
Jerry