Rende, Administrative center in Province of Cosenza, Italy
Rende is a municipality in the Province of Cosenza in Calabria that spreads from the Crati River valley to the hills of the Serre Cosentine, with the old town sitting on higher ground above the newer urban areas. The University of Calabria campus occupies a large portion of the territory and brings a noticeable student presence to the streets and neighborhoods below.
The original settlement of Acheruntia was founded by Greek colonists and renamed Aruntia in the 6th century BC before taking its present form during the medieval period. The Normans built a fortress on the hilltop in 1095 that contributed to the development of the fortified core.
The Norman Castle from 1095 and Santa Maria Maggiore Church stand as primary architectural monuments representing different periods of local history.
The old town sits on a hill and requires steep uphill walks, while the modern quarter on flat ground is easier to navigate. The university area is well connected to the center and offers regular bus service during the academic year.
The Santa Maria Maggiore church features a 15th-century western portal that counts among the few surviving examples of late Gothic stonework in this region. The interior preserves wooden choir stalls crafted in a local workshop during the 17th century.
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