Catanzaro surprises. It does so, for example, in the Archaeological Park of Scolacium, a city of Magna Graecia and later of the Romans, now set among olive groves and brought to life through multimedia installations. Equally significant is the Mediterranean Biodiversity Park, a 60-hectare area born from an urban redevelopment project that combines natural environment, contemporary art, and scientific research. Particularly striking is the International Sculpture Park, with more than 20 open-air installations created by world-renowned artists such as Tony Cragg, Dennis Oppenheim, Mimmo Paladino, and Michelangelo Pistoletto.
Among the city’s most representative landmarks is the San Giovanni monumental complex, built on a Norman-Swabian structure and now a cultural center that integrates historical architecture with exhibition spaces, including the Castle Galleries. Also noteworthy for the quality of its collection is the MARCA (Museum of Arts of Catanzaro).

Leaving the Calabrian capital, the route heads swiftly toward the Tyrrhenian Sea, reaching it at Gizzeria Lido. From there, it follows the coastline through well-known seaside resorts to Amantea, a medieval village perched on a hill just above the shore. The old town, carved into the rock, can be explored along winding alleys leading to the Church of San Bernardino da Siena (15th century). Also worth visiting are the Church of San Francesco d’Assisi (13th century), the towers of the Byzantine fortress, and the Cathedral of San Biagio, built over a previous Greek church. Returning to the coast, the route continues to San Lucido, where it turns inland to tackle the climb up to Passo Crocetta at 979 meters, the only significant ascent of the day, which leads into a long flat section toward the finish.

Cosenza, often referred to as the “Athens of Italy” for its important historical heritage, preserves monumental masterpieces such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, of medieval origin and rebuilt in the 13th century, and the Norman-Swabian Castle. The Archaeological Museum of the Brettii and Enotri tells the story of the city through finds from the protohistoric, Hellenistic, and Roman periods. Also worth seeing is the Carlo Bilotti Open-Air Museum along Corso Mazzini, featuring sculptures by Dalí, Giorgio de Chirico, Mimmo Rotella, and other internationally renowned artists. Technology enthusiasts will be fascinated by the Interactive Museum of Computer Archaeology, an exhibition of more than one hundred historical computers that trace the evolution of computing over the decades. After such an intense day, visitors can relax in the greenery of Villa Vecchia, a 17th-century urban garden that has been recently restored.