The province of Cosenza () is a province in the region of Calabria in southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Cosenza. It has a population of 667,134 in an area of across its 150 municipalities. Many of the Arbëreshë Albanians of Italy live in the province, since arriving in the 16th century to flee the religious persecution undertaken by the Ottoman Empire.

History

The first traces of human settlement in the area date from the early Palaeolithic period. These sites include the Romito Cave at Papasidero, including wall paintings of bovidae.

Cosenza began as a settlement of the Italic Bruttii tribe, and became their capital before the Romans invaded the area. The town was conquered by the Romans in 204 BC and was named Cosentia. Starting from the 8th century BC, the current provincial area became part of the so-called Greater Greece, or Magna Graecia (Latin). Greek cities, including Sibari and Pandosia, were mostly located on the coastal area and at the foot of the Pollino massif.

King of the Visigoths Alaric I conquered the region during the later stages of the Western Roman Empire and according to legend, Alaric I is buried in Cosenza along with a large treasure hoard. Later Cosenza fell under the rule of the Byzantine Empire for a brief period of time, before being conquered by the Lombards, as part of the Duchy of Benevento. Roger II of Sicily made it the capital of Terra Giordana in the 12th century.

In Modern times, as part of the Kingdom of Naples and later of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, the province remained mostly a rural area devoted to agriculture and animal husbandry. Feudalism was abolished only in the 19th century. The area was also seat to several forms of brigandage during the centuries.

Municipalities

The province has 150 municipalities:

  • Acquaformosa
  • Acquappesa
  • Acri
  • Aiello Calabro
  • Aieta
  • Albidona
  • Alessandria del Carretto
  • Altilia
  • Altomonte
  • Amantea
  • Amendolara
  • Aprigliano
  • Belmonte Calabro
  • Belsito
  • Belvedere Marittimo
  • Bianchi
  • Bisignano
  • Bocchigliero
  • Bonifati
  • Buonvicino
  • Calopezzati
  • Caloveto
  • Campana
  • Canna
  • Cariati
  • Carolei
  • Carpanzano
  • Casali del Manco
  • Cassano all'Ionio
  • Castiglione Cosentino
  • Castrolibero
  • Castroregio
  • Castrovillari
  • Celico
  • Cellara
  • Cerchiara di Calabria
  • Cerisano
  • Cervicati
  • Cerzeto
  • Cetraro
  • Civita
  • Cleto
  • Colosimi
  • Corigliano-Rossano
  • Cosenza
  • Cropalati
  • Crosia
  • Diamante
  • Dipignano
  • Domanico
  • Fagnano Castello
  • Falconara Albanese
  • Figline Vegliaturo
  • Firmo
  • Fiumefreddo Bruzio
  • Francavilla Marittima
  • Frascineto
  • Fuscaldo
  • Grimaldi
  • Grisolia
  • Guardia Piemontese
  • Lago
  • Laino Borgo
  • Laino Castello
  • Lappano
  • Lattarico
  • Longobardi
  • Longobucco
  • Lungro
  • Luzzi
  • Maierà
  • Malito
  • Malvito
  • Mandatoriccio
  • Mangone
  • Marano Marchesato
  • Marano Principato
  • Marzi
  • Mendicino
  • Mongrassano
  • Montalto Uffugo
  • Montegiordano
  • Morano Calabro
  • Mormanno
  • Mottafollone
  • Nocara
  • Oriolo
  • Orsomarso
  • Paludi
  • Panettieri
  • Paola
  • Papasidero
  • Parenti
  • Paterno Calabro
  • Pedivigliano
  • Piane Crati
  • Pietrafitta
  • Pietrapaola
  • Plataci
  • Praia a Mare
  • Rende
  • Rocca Imperiale
  • Roggiano Gravina
  • Rogliano
  • Rose
  • Roseto Capo Spulico
  • Rota Greca
  • Rovito
  • San Basile
  • San Benedetto Ullano
  • San Cosmo Albanese
  • San Demetrio Corone
  • San Donato di Ninea
  • San Fili
  • San Giorgio Albanese
  • San Giovanni in Fiore
  • San Lorenzo Bellizzi
  • San Lorenzo del Vallo
  • San Lucido
  • San Marco Argentano
  • San Martino di Finita
  • San Nicola Arcella
  • San Pietro in Amantea
  • San Pietro in Guarano
  • San Sosti
  • San Vincenzo La Costa
  • Sangineto
  • Sant'Agata di Esaro
  • Santa Caterina Albanese
  • Santa Domenica Talao
  • Santa Maria del Cedro
  • Santa Sofia d'Epiro
  • Santo Stefano di Rogliano
  • Saracena
  • Scala Coeli
  • Scalea
  • Scigliano
  • Serra d'Aiello
  • Spezzano Albanese
  • Spezzano della Sila
  • Tarsia
  • Terranova da Sibari
  • Terravecchia
  • Torano Castello
  • Tortora
  • Trebisacce
  • Vaccarizzo Albanese
  • Verbicaro
  • Villapiana
  • Zumpano

Demographics

As of 2026, the population is 667,134, of which 49.2% are male, and 50.8% are female. Minors make up 14.5% of the population, and seniors make up 25.4%.

Foreign population

As of 2025, of the known countries of birth of 660,007 residents, the most numerous are: Italy (608,022 – 92.1%), Romania (9,579 – 1.5%), Germany (7,896 – 1.2%), Argentina (4,817 – 0.7%), Morocco (3,824 – 0.6%).

See also

  • Amantea Castle
  • Lake Passante

References

  • Official website