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00 Albidona
Stemma di Albidona

Calabria · Cosenza

Albidona

A hill village at 810 meters between the Pollino and the Ionian, identified by ancient writers as Leutarnia, the city founded by Calchas after Troy.

Best time
May–Oct
By car
2 h 41 min from Bari
By train
Station in the comune
Population
1,142

Known for

  • LEUTARNIA

    Identified by Lycophron and Strabo with the Magna Graecia city founded by Calchas, the seer of the Trojan War.

  • TORRE DEI MONACI

    Sixteenth-century coastal watchtower built by Pedro de Toledo against Saracen raids, later owned by the monks.

  • PANORAMA

    At 810 meters, with the Pollino crest behind and the Gulf of Taranto in front, the village commands one of the widest views in Cosenza.

When to visit

Best · May–Oct

  • J9°
  • F11°
  • M12°
  • A15°
  • M20°
  • J26°
  • J29°
  • A28°
  • S24°
  • O19°
  • N14°
  • D11°
  • Best
  • Hot or crowded
  • Quiet
  • Mostly closed

Daytime averages, 2020–2024. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.

Why come

Albidona sits at 810 meters on a ridge between the Pollino mountains and the Ionian coast, eleven kilometers from the sea and eighteen from the high mountain. The ancient writers Lycophron and Strabo identify it with Leutarnia, the Magna Graecia town founded by the seer Calchas on his return from the Trojan War. Whatever the legend, the first reliable historical record dates from around the year 1000.

The territory drops from the village ridge down to the Ionian, where Don Pedro Álvarez de Toledo built a watchtower in the sixteenth century to defend the coastline from Saracen raids; in the 1600s the monks took possession and the structure is still called the Torre dei Monaci. Five churches anchor the centro storico, including the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo at the highest point. The commune is part of Borghi Autentici d'Italia.

The Sunday letter

Albidona is on our list. Its letter is still to come.

We are writing about all 1,000 of these towns, one at a time, in a free letter every Sunday: the photo, the food, the festa. That is our mission. Sign up and you will be there when Albidona comes up. By Peter & Sophia, from Pietrasanta.

Read on

Albidona in our articles

How to get there

From Lamezia / Reggio (SUF), about 2h 26m by car.

Bari / Brindisi (BRI) is about 2h 47m away.

By car from the centre of Bari 2h 41m, Salerno 3h 11m or Lecce 3h 20m.

There is a railway station in the comune, so you can arrive without a car.

Albidona, photo 1
Albidona, photo 2

What to see

  • Torre dei Monaci

    Sixteenth-century coastal watchtower built by Don Pedro Álvarez de Toledo against Saracen raids, later owned by monks who gave it its current name.

  • Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo

    Mother church on the highest point of the village, named for the patron archangel of Albidona.

  • Chiesa della Madonna del Cafaro

    Sanctuary in the countryside below the village, traditional site of pilgrimage in the surrounding farmland.

  • Centro storico

    Hilltop borgo of stone houses and stepped alleys, with views from the Pollino crest to the Gulf of Taranto on clear days.

The slow-trip planner

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Living here

  • Population 1,142
  • Remotei
  • Pharmacy: none mapped
  • High school within a 30-minute drive
  • Train station in the comune
  • Nearest airport Lamezia / Reggio, 2 h 26 min drive
  • Regional capital Catanzaro, 2 h 41 min drive

Common questions

What is Albidona known for?
Albidona is a hill village at 810 meters between the Pollino and the Ionian, identified by ancient writers as Leutarnia, the city founded by Calchas after Troy.
Where is Albidona?
Albidona is a comune in the province of Cosenza, in Calabria.
What is the nearest airport to Albidona?
Lamezia / Reggio (SUF), about 2h 26m by car.
Can you get to Albidona without a car?
Yes. There is a railway station in the comune, so you can arrive by train.
How long is the drive from Bari to Albidona?
About 2h 41m by car.
When is the best time to visit Albidona?
Best in May–Oct. July is the warmest month, averaging 29 degrees, and November the wettest, with about 13 rain days.
Which other towns are like Albidona?
Caldes, Savignano Irpino and Ormea.
How many people live in Albidona?
1,142 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources

The numbers

  • Elevation: 810 m
  • Population: 1,142
  • Surface area: 64.67 km²

These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.

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