Upper Tyrrhenian Cosentino · Riviera dei Cedri
Santa Maria del Cedro
A town of the Riviera dei Cedri, home of the citron, by the archaeological area of ancient Laos.
Santa Maria del Cedro is a town of about 5,200 inhabitants in the province of Cosenza, in the Lao plain, between Scalea and Grisolia.
Geography
The territory lies at the lower end of the Lao plain, by the Lao and Abatemarco rivers, along the Tyrrhenian coast.
History
The town was founded in the 17th century by residents of Abatemarco displaced after river floods, originally called Cipollina; it was a hamlet of Grisolia until 1948, when it became an autonomous municipality, taking its present name in 1968.
What to see
On the Palecastro hill, in the Marcellina hamlet, lies the archaeological area of Laos, an ancient Greek city whose finds are kept in the Scalea antiquarium and the National Museum of Magna Graecia in Reggio Calabria. The Carcere dell’Impresa (15th–16th century) now houses the Citron Museum; among military structures are the Castello di San Michele and the Torre Sant’Andrea.
Getting there
By car via the A2 “del Mediterraneo” motorway; by train on the Tyrrhenian railway line; the nearest airport is Lamezia Terme.
Places
What to see around here.
Itineraries through here
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4 daysGrand tourGrand Tour of the Riviera dei Cedri
Four days from north to south along the Upper Tyrrhenian Cosentino coast: islands, Norman towns, murals and sanctuaries.
11 stops8 townsMay–OctoberSee the stops - 2 daysGrand tour
Flavours of the Riviera
Two days among citron, chilli pepper and harbour: the typical products of the Upper Tyrrhenian Cosentino coast.
4 stops3 townsAll year roundSee the stops -
3 daysGrand tourFlavours and traditions
Three days among citron, old towns and harbour: a journey through the flavours of the Upper Tyrrhenian Cosentino coast.
6 stops4 townsAll year roundSee the stops
Frequently asked questions
- From the citron, the typical citrus grown locally, known as the “Santa Maria del Cedro citron”.
- The remains of the ancient Greek city of Laos, on the Palecastro hill in the Marcellina hamlet.
Why is it called Santa Maria del Cedro?
What is the archaeological area of Laos?
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