MINOR BASILICA
This Basilica is of ancient origin, but it has been rebuilt several times in the course of centuries. The presents construction dates back to the fifteenth century. The Basilica, whose style is neoclassisch, has got three naves and presents, tracks of older structures in the arches under the eighteenth century bell tower. The Basilica has been restored by the bischops Antonio Lucifero (1508-1521), Nicefero Melisseno Commeno (1628-1635) and Giuseppe Cavaliere (1883-1899).
Capocolonna Lady Chapel - Icon representing the Virgin Mary with the Holy Child. According to the tradition, this icon is a work by St.Luke, the Evangelist; Maybe, it was St.Dionigi l'Aeropagita, who is remembered as the first bishop of Crotone, the one who brougth the icon into this town. At first it was kept at Capo Colonna and then it was moved to Jesus Mary's Paolano Monastery. At the beginning of the sixteenth century it was transferred to the Cathedral after the Turkish menace. After numerous manumissions and additions the icon has been recently restored and it has been stated that the painting dates back to the fifteenth century and is, maybe, the reproduction of an older one. Episoded of its history are to be found in one painting by Boschetto representing the profanation of the sacred icon by the Turks in 1519 and in De Falco's canvas representing their siege in 1638.
St. Dionigi l'Aeropagita's Chapel - Marble Tondo in bas-relief (XVI century) and St. Dionigi's bust in bishop's vestements (XVIII century).
Choir - It dates back to the seventeenth century (1678). It has got a double row of walnut pench. Lecterns of carved walnut wood. (XVIII century).
Baptismal Font - Baptismal vessel in stone (XII century) and superior part in inlaid walnut wood. (XVI century).
Other Works - Canvas representing Jesus Christ back from the doctor's visit. It has been attributed to the Crotonese painter Nicola Lapiccola (1730-1790). St. Gennaro's Bust (XVII century); various silverware among which Spanish goblet, gift from Filippo IV to the bishop of Crotone, Nicefero Melisseno Commeno.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH
It was consecrated in 1756 with a sumptuos ceremony by Mons. Domenico Morelli bishop of Strongoli. In the past it housed the chapels of noble families of the town and was the permanent seat of "Our Lady of Sorrows Confraternities". Baroque Portal: (XVIII century). Statue of St. Gregory, Bishop (1721), one of the works of the sculptor Nicola Fumo. Wood Statue of S.Nicola di Bari (XVII century). Inlaid and decorated cinireray Urn with St. Celestino Martyr's remains. Some eightheenth century canvases.
ST. CHIARA'S CHURCH AND MONASTERY OF THE POOR CLARES
The monastery was built in about 1442; in 1458 it gave hospitality to the Black Friars and is nowadays enumerated among the institutions abolished by the Holy Fund after 1783 earthquake. The church, which was consecrated in 1754, has got some baroque decorations, a fired clay floor (XVIII century) and various eighteenth century canvases, two of which by the painter Vitaliano Alfì from Crotone. Higher in place, we can find a wood Women's Gallery used by the Nuns, who attended the various religious ceremonies and a Neapolitan Organ built by Tommaso De Martino in 1753. Bell tower and remains of the Cloister with well and cistern (XVI-XVII centuries). Part of the Monastery is of common and municipal property and it houses the Cultural Estate Office. The other side of the monastery is used by the Sisters of Sacred Hearth an by the Padri Stimmatini.
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE
This church dates back to the eighteenth century. Once, it housed the homonymous confraternity. In this church we can admire the wonderful wood Christ Crucified of Neapolitan School, maybe the work of a member of Guido Reni's School. Very rare, precious representation of the Dying Christ with still open eyes. The dying Christ was first housed in the Hospital Church of "San Giovanni di Dio" and then in St.Joseph's one. It was brought into the present place in 1957 in order to protect it from dampness. Crypt.
CIRCUIT OF THE WALLS
Of the powerful bastioned walls built by the Spanish, who started the works in 1541 just the bulwarks reamin today. Their names are: Marchese, Toledo, Don Pedro, and the demilunes Fosso and Conigliera, surrounding the old town. In Don Pedro's eartworks, we can find the Emperor Charles V's and the viceroy Don Pedro from Toledo's emblems.
CHARLES V'S CASTLE
Originary, a fortified nucleus of the Greek-Roman acropolis. This castle underwent several trasformations under Normans, Arabic and Swabians. The Swabians rebuilt it nearly wholly choicing a new pentagonal plant typically related to Frederick Style, with five circular towers. The names of the towers are: Mamunella, Barbacana, Triangula, Thesauro and Turricella. They are all around the massive building (the tower shaped one), whose name was Turris Palatii. Later it was rebuilt and named Torre Marchesana. The massive building stood in the upper side of the castle and was the most ancient nucleus of it. The northern tower (Torrionetto) and the northern curtain date back to the Swabian-Angevin period, (XIII century) while the two turret masts, Comandante and Aiutante, and the eastern curtain date back to the Aragonese period (1492). During the vice-royalty (in the plan of military restoration of the town), part of the ancient structures was incorporeted into St.Catherine's and St.James's earthworks, which together with the Critazzo's curtain dominate the littoral. Nowadays the only remains of the main entrance are the door and the bridge, fixed in the same place where the drawbridge rested once. The drawgbridge had to defend another entrance door inserted in a pyramidal, massive (tower shaped) building. Inside it we can find the Campana Barracks, turned into a municipal Library, the Snake's Prison at St.Catherine's earthwork and the Secret Sortie of the Seven Doors, which consented to observe the littoral from St.James's earthwork.
NATIONAL MUSEUM
In it we can admire numerous finds coming from Crotone's, Capo Colonna's and the territory's archaelogical areas. Important collection of Greek and Roman coins.
CIVIC MUSEUM
It is situated in the "Aiutante Tower" inside the castle, which has housed it since 1987. Noble arms, weapons and other archaelogical and historical material coming from the castle are exposed in it.
ANTIQUARIUM
It is housed in the Nao Tower, where sub-remains, collected in the area are exhibited.
APT
TOURIST BOARD OF CROTONE
Via Torino, 148 - 88074 Crotone
Tel. ++39-962-23185 - Fax. ++39-962-26700
E mail:crotone@fromitaly.it |
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