Rossano Stazione: Codex, Coast and Historic City Gates

Rossano Stazione offers a glimpse of a stay where cultural history, landscapes and local products come together in different ways. Rossano lies between the natural landscapes of the Sila and the Ionian Sea. The landscape includes pine groves near a coastline approximately 19 kilometres long, as well as monumental oak trees. Those planning a trip that takes both the coastal area and forest landscapes, as well as historical sites, into account can consider these themes side by side.

Manuscript and Byzantine heritage

The Codex Purpureus Rossanensis is a Greek majuscule manuscript dating from the 5th or 6th century and contains the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Its reddish pages are written in silver and gold ink; the manuscript also contains 14 illuminations. The 14 illuminations complement the Gospel texts with a visual dimension within the same manuscript and form part of its design. Here, a very old writing tradition meets an unusual use of colour.

The historic centre of Rossano also makes a striking contribution to the townscape: it is shaped like a vine leaf and is considered a particularly impressive example of Byzantine urban planning. Porta dell’Acqua stands at the intersection of Via Vittorio Emanuele and Corso Garibaldi. Remains of a medieval fortification have been preserved at its entrance. Porta Giudecca on Via XX Settembre probably belonged to an early phase of Rossano’s fortifications and led into the district inhabited by Jews, where the S. Martino district with its church of the same name is located today.

Sacred art and local tradition

The Abbey of Santa Maria del Patire is also known as Pathirion and has an ancient 12th-century mosaic floor depicting real and mythological animals. Another form of local tradition is the Festa di Sant’Onofrio. It traditionally takes place every year on the third Sunday in May in the mountain district of the same name in Rossano.

Liquorice, olives and olive mills

Among the regional products, the tour of the Amarelli liquorice factory and liquorice museum leads to Contrada Amarelli, 87064 Rossano Stazione CS. “Dolce di Rossano” is a Calabrian olive variety and bears the protected designation of origin DOP Bruzio “Colline Joniche Presilane”. In addition, the Frantoio Oleario Ruffo olive mill is the fourth stop on the “Rossano – Itinerario tra storia e frantoi” route; it is located in 87067 Rossano Stazione CS.

Connection to the sea and a designated event venue

The Norman watchtower Torre S. Angelo is located in Rossano near the seafront promenade, approximately 150 metres from the sea. At the third edition of the Co.Ro. Half Marathon on 9 November 2025, the finish line was on Piazza Bernardino Le Fosse in Rossano Scalo; the awards ceremony and accompanying events also took place there.

More destinations

Discover more destinations via Mangone, Frascineto, Longobardi, Altomonte, Carolei, Buonvicino, Paola and Villapiana.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cosenza.