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.
The province of Cosenza contains a community of Occitan language (also known as Langue d'oc) speakers in Guardia Piemontese: it was formed by Vaudoi or Waldensian movement members, who moved to Cosenza to avoid religious persecution, in the 13th and 14th centuries. 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%.
Immigration As of 2025, immigrants make up 9.2% of the population. The 5 largest foreign countries of birth are Romania, Germany, Argentina, Morocco, and Brazil.
Government List of presidents
See also Amantea Castle Lake Passante
References
External links Official website