Capo Colonna

The promontory of Capo Colonna hosts the homonymous Archaeological Park, where anciently the great Heraion Lakinion was located. The Park extends along 30 hectares of land used as excavations, and another 20 hectares covered by a wood and the typical “Macchia Mediterranea”. The Heraion Lakinion was one of the most famous sacred areas of the entire Mediterranean basin related to the majestic sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Hera Lacinia.

The entrance to the Park consists of the new Archaeological Museum, a structure with three pavilions built into the ground to reduce the environmental impact, which collects the finds found in the excavation area in front. A long tree-lined avenue, immersed in the luxuriant “Macchia Mediterranea”, leads to the first evidence of the Archaeological Park. At the end of the avenue, there are the walls of the VI century BC. They were reinforced later by the Romans and of which the opus reticolatum is clearly visible. Crossing the entrance of the Via Sacra, 8.5 meters wide and partially discovered in 1987, it is possible entering the area of the sanctuary of Hera Lacinia, well protected by the large curtain wall reinforced to the north and south by two external towers.

The sacred area is divided into two zones oriented to the east, and crossed by the solemn Via Sacra. The Katagogion, a hotel for privileged pilgrims, is aligned towards the north side and shows a peristyle with stuccoed columns and capitals of the Doric order of the second half of the 4th century BC. The Hestiatorion, a building for banquets, located along the south side of the track is dated back to this period. The two buildings are not yet fully investigated. The temple of Hera Lacinia, the most important attraction of the park, is opposite the entrance of the Via Sacra, on the east side of the promontory of Capo Colonna. The temple was realized in Doric style with a rectangular plan of 6x19 columns and it dates back to the 5th century BC.

Unfortunately today only a column with stilobate remains of the temple: Doric style, 8.5 meters high with 20 flat grooves, and the powerful base composed of 10 levels of squared blocks. It was found next to the temple the foundations of a large building called B with a rectangular plan of 22x9 meters. In the area outside the sanctuary, but still inside the Archaeological Park, various domestic environments have been excavated, suggesting the priests' quarters, a Roman bath balneum, and a Roman villa, both of the III century AD.

The conspicuous objects found during the excavations in the Archaeological Park are divided among the different museums of the city of Crotone. The last discoveries are found in the new and adjacent Museum of Capo Colonna, while something of the pre-colonial era is exhibited in the Antiquarium of Torre Nao, located inside the Archaeological Park. The first finds of the Archaic period and above all the precious Treasure of Hera are placed in the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone.




Attractions

• The castle of “Santa Severina” – Santa Severina (Crotone)

The great castle of Santa Severina, also known as Carafa Castle, was built on a fortress of the Roman-Byzantine time during the Norman domination of the XI century. It is composed of a XV century square surrounded by a moat and encircling walls. With a section that offers examples of different stiles (Byzantine, Norman, Svevian). Today the castle is home to a museum which exhibits the artifacts and archaeological collections from the neighboring territory.

• Le Castella” – Isola Capo Rizzuto (Crotone)

Among the most imposing fortresses of Calabria, the Aragonese castle of Le Castella it has over time become a symbol of tourism in Calabria. Located on a small strip of land overlooking the beautiful “Costa dei Saraceni” in the hamlet of Le Castella town of Isola Capo Rizzuto represents what remains of a more large ancient area. The fortress is surrounded by the Capo Rizzuto Marine Reserve and from one of the  rooms it is possible to observe the seabed thanks to of underwater cameras positioned in marine environment.

• The National Archaeological Museum of Crotone

Housed in a building in the old town of Crotone, the National Archaeological Museum is among the greater of Calabria for the abundance of exposed artifacts. To admire the artefacts of the excavation of the ancient Kroton, of the sanctuaries of Heraion Lakinion and Hera Lacinia, the remains of the shipwreck of Punta Scifo and many others, all exhibited in a chronological order starting from the prehistoric age.

• Scifo Tower

Ancient tower on the homonymous promontory where also it is possible thanks diving activities to observe the ancient Roman shipwreck with a huge load of marbles blocks.

• The ancient town of Cirò

A lot of architectural buildings, monuments and archaeological sites represent important touristic highlights. One of the greatest is the Temple of Apollo Haleo, located in locality Punta Alice. Cirò is also famous for its wine.

• Caccuri

The  Medieval Day is held in August, where residents wear medieval clothing, reminding ancient traditions.

• Castelsilano

Traditional donkey race in August.