Crotone history

The history of Crotone is rooted in deep antiquity: the city was founded by Greek colonists from Achaea around 710 BC. In ancient times, it bore the name Croton and was situated on the coast of the Ionian Sea. According to legend, the site for the settlement was chosen by the direction of the Delphic Oracle, which gave the city a special sacred status from the moment of its birth.

Several important circumstances contributed to the rapid flourishing of the polis in the south of modern Italy:

• Strategic Geography: A favourable location between the sea and fertile inland lands allowed the city to become a major trade hub.
• Healthy Climate: Ancient authors noted the exceptional climate of the area, which was believed to contribute to the physical strength and health of the local inhabitants.
• Military Power: Croton possessed a strong army, which allowed it to defeat the rival city of Sybaris and establish hegemony in the region.

Croton became famous as an intellectual and cultural centre of Magna Graecia. It was here that the famous philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras moved, founding his school, which had a huge influence on the political and spiritual life of the city. The economy was based on developed agriculture and the minting of its own silver coin — the stater, valued throughout the Mediterranean. The city was also known for its medical school and outstanding athletes: the most renowned of them was the wrestler Milo, a multiple winner of the Olympic Games.

• 710 BC — Greek colonists led by Myscellus found Crotone, which soon becomes a prosperous polis of Magna Graecia.
• c. 530 BC — The famous philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras arrives in the city, creating his influential school here.
• 510 BC — The city's army gains a historic victory over the troops of neighbouring Sybaris, asserting hegemony in the region.
• 480 BC — A ship commanded by Phayllos of Croton takes part in the Battle of Salamis, supporting the Greeks in the war against the Persians.
• 277 BC — Roman legions conquer the city, and it finally loses its political independence.
• 194 BC — The Romans establish a colony here to revive the port's economy after devastating wars.
• 6th Century AD — During the Gothic Wars, the city passes under the administration of the Byzantine Empire, becoming an important military outpost.
• 1541 — Emperor Charles V orders a large-scale reconstruction of the castle and city fortifications for protection against the Ottoman fleet.
• 1799 — The local population supports the ideas of the Parthenopean Republic, leading to a short-lived uprising.
• 1860 — After Garibaldi's expedition, the city becomes part of the unified Kingdom of Italy.
• 1928 — The launch of the first major chemical plants marks the beginning of the era of industrialisation in the region.
• 1980s — Archaeological excavations at Capo Colonna reveal new significant objects of the sanctuary of Hera Lacinia.
• 1992 — The city receives the official status of the administrative centre of the new Province of Crotone.

The evolution of Crotone represents a journey from a powerful ancient polis to a modern administrative centre. Throughout its centuries-old history, the city has undergone several radical transformations that changed its economic structure and architectural appearance.

• Cultural Capital of Magna Graecia. In antiquity, the city reached the peak of its influence thanks to the founding of the philosophical school of Pythagoras and the famous medical school. This turned it into an intellectual centre of the Mediterranean, and the minting of its own currency secured economic leadership in the region.
• Renaissance Urbanisation. Large-scale reconstruction under Spanish rule in the 16th century, initiated by Emperor Charles V, completely changed the urban plan. The construction of massive fortress walls and the rebuilding of the castle defined the boundaries and structure of the historic centre, which remains to this day.
• Industrial Breakthrough of the 20th Century. In the 1920s–1930s, the city became one of the main industrial hubs of southern Italy. The opening of large chemical and metallurgical combines led to explosive population growth, the construction of new residential districts, and the formation of a working class, which defined the economic profile of the region for decades.
• Development of Port Infrastructure. The port has always remained the "heart" of the city's economy. Its modernisation in the 20th century allowed for the handling of large industrial shipments, and in modern times it is reorienting towards receiving cruise liners and tourist yachts, connecting the city with the outside world.
• Obtaining Province Status (1992). Separation into a distinct administrative unit became an important milestone, stimulating the development of urban infrastructure and the service sector. This event secured the city's role as the political and administrative leader of the territory.
• Post-industrial Renovation. After the closure of factories in the 1990s, a phase of ecological recovery and rethinking of urban spaces began. The modern vector of development is aimed at transforming former industrial zones into areas for business and leisure, as well as developing archaeological tourism around Capo Colonna.

The architectural appearance of Crotone is a complex mosaic where the grandeur of Magna Graecia intertwines with medieval fortification and modern development. The city developed as a strategic outpost on the coast of the Ionian Sea, which predetermined the dominance of defensive structures in the historic centre and a clear division into old and new parts.

The city's urban structure is clearly zoned: the historic core with narrow winding streets is located on an elevation and surrounded by fortress walls, while modern districts descend towards the port and stretch along the coast of southern Italy.

The main architectural eras and styles that formed the city's appearance:

• Antiquity (Doric Order). Although the modern city hides much of the ancient Greek polis beneath it, the main evidence of this era remains the archaeological park at Capo Colonna. Here, a single column of the Temple of Hera Lacinia has been preserved — a classic example of the Doric style, symbolising the power of ancient architecture.
• Renaissance Military Architecture (16th Century). The dominant feature of the old city is the Castle of Charles V (Castello di Carlo V). This massive structure with powerful bastions and curtain walls illustrates the transition from medieval castle architecture to the bastion system of fortifications of the Modern Age, designed to withstand artillery.
• Baroque and Neoclassicism (17th–19th Centuries). Religious and civil architecture in the city centre is represented by noble mansions and churches. The Cathedral (Duomo), originally built in the 9th century, has been rebuilt multiple times. Its current facade is executed in the Neoclassical style, while the interior retains Baroque elements characteristic of the southern Italian tradition.
• Modernism and Industrial Style (20th Century). The development of industry in the last century brought functional architecture of working-class districts and port structures to the city. Piazza Pitagora serves as a link between the historic centre and modern development, demonstrating examples of rationalist urban planning.

A special charm is lent to the city by the so-called palazzi — palaces of the local aristocracy (for example, Palazzo Morelli or Palazzo Barracco), hidden in the labyrinth of streets of the historic centre. Their facades, decorated with coats of arms and wrought-iron balconies, create the atmosphere of an old southern city.

Notable People

The biographies of many legendary figures are intertwined with the history of Crotone. In antiquity, this polis was a centre of attraction for the intellectual elite of the Mediterranean, and in the modern era, the city has gifted Italy with talented artists and athletes.

• Pythagoras of Samos (c. 570–490 BC)
  Philosopher, mathematician, and mystic
  Although Pythagoras was born on the island of Samos, it was here that he founded his famous school. His teachings on numbers and harmony turned the city into one of the main intellectual centres of Magna Graecia, exerting a huge influence on the politics and culture of the region.
• Milo of Croton (6th Century BC)
  Athlete and military commander
  The most titled wrestler of antiquity, who won six times at the Olympic Games. He was famous for his incredible physical strength (legend has it he could lift a bull) and for leading an army of citizens in the decisive battle against Sybaris.
• Alcmaeon of Croton (5th Century BC)
  Physician and natural philosopher
  One of the pioneers of scientific medicine and anatomy. He was the first to put forward a theory, revolutionary for his time, that the centre of human thought and sensation is the brain, not the heart.
• Phayllos (5th Century BC)
  Hero of the Greco-Persian Wars and athlete
  A renowned winner of the Pythian Games who equipped his own ship to participate in the Battle of Salamis. He was the only representative of the Western Greeks to support Hellas in the fight against the Persian fleet.
• Rino Gaetano (1950–1981)
  Singer and songwriter
  A cult Italian musician and native of the city. Known for his unique raspy voice and ironic, socially sharp lyrics. His work still enjoys immense popularity, and the song "Ma il cielo è sempre più blu" has become an unofficial anthem of optimism.
• Vincenzo Iaquinta (born 1979)
  Footballer
  A striker who reached the pinnacle of his sports career with the national team. He became a World Cup champion in 2006, forever inscribing his name and his hometown into sports history.