At Capo Colonna, Crotone’s archaeological heritage comes into view: the Capo Colonna Archaeological Park includes the remains of the original temple, cult buildings and the 4th-century BC Katagogion. Taken together, these structures point to more than the remains of a single temple and place the sanctuary in a broader context.
Finds from the sanctuary, city and sea
The Capo Colonna Archaeological Museum divides its exhibition into three pavilions. Terra preserves finds from the period of Roman rule, Sacro is devoted to evidence from the sacred area of the sanctuary, and Mare to underwater finds. This arrangement takes visitors from the history of rule through sacred objects to finds from the sea. The exhibits include a 5th-century BC Corinthian bronze helmet. The museum also displays a marble sculpture of Amore e Psiche, found in the coastal waters off Crotone. The helmet and sculpture represent different ways of discovering the past: through an object and its context, and through the place where a work was found.
Fortress and sacred history
Castello di Carlo V offers a different architectural perspective. It was built in the 9th century on the ruins of the ancient Greek acropolis of Kroton. Inward-facing round towers and bastions facing the sea illustrate the transition from medieval to Renaissance military architecture. Their contrasting orientations make this transition particularly easy to follow. The Castello also has tunnels and a secret exit called “Le Sette Porte”; access arrangements may vary.
The Santuario di Santa Maria di Capo Colonna houses the icon of the Madonna di Capo Colonna, known as the “Black Madonna” and dating from the 10th or 11th century. The Cappella Epifania also contains a 13th-century baptismal font. Here, within the sacred history, you can encounter traces of different periods: the icon, whose dating spans two centuries, and the chapel’s baptismal font.
The Museo e Giardini di Pitagora offers a different thematic perspective. Panels, installations and educational materials explain how strongly Pythagoras’s thinking has influenced Western culture. This broadens the cultural picture beyond archaeological finds and architectural history to include the impact of a philosophical idea.
Landscape and marine protection
I Calanchi refers to clay landscapes that formed millions of years ago and are shaped by water erosion. The sea around Capo Colonna lies in Zone A of the Capo Rizzuto Marine Protected Area, the zone of integral protection. Check local regulations before your visit. Swimming and guided underwater visits with the support of local diving centres are permitted in the marine protected area. Sailing and rowing are also permitted; motorised vessels are subject to a maximum speed of five knots. Management rules, as well as speed and anchoring restrictions, apply. The activities listed here are not assigned to any one specific protection zone.
Routes and regional cuisine
Five themed routes connect archaeological sites, coastal landscapes, places of worship and historic villages. They offer different thematic points of interest without prescribing a set itinerary. Route details may change, so check them when planning your trip. Sardella crotonese is part of the regional cuisine; this typical dish can be sampled in Crotone. Availability may vary from one restaurant to another.
Discover more destinations: Caccuri, Cirò Marina, Petilia Policastro, Isola Di Capo Rizzuto, Santa Severina, Crotone, Cutro, Steccato, Le Castella, Torre Melissa, Cotronei, Belvedere Di Spinello, Melissa, San Nicola Dell'alto, Roccabernarda, Marina Di Strongoli, Torretta, Sant'Anna, Strongoli, San Leonardo di Cutro.
For the overview of the wider area: Calabria.
