Ponte sul Busento — Luogo del Tesoro di Alarico
كوزنتسا
Somewhere beneath the waters of the Busento, legend says, the king of the Visigoths rests with his fabulous treasure. Alaric's burial is one of Europe's most fascinating mysteries, unsolved for over sixteen hundred years. Lean over the river and try to imagine the gold still waiting, somewhere in the silt.
The story of Alaric's treasure
In AD 410 Alaric, king of the Visigoths, was heading for Sicily when he died suddenly in Cosenza, perhaps of malarial fever. According to the account of an ancient historian, the course of the Busento was diverted, the tomb was dug in the dry riverbed, the king was laid there with his booty and the water was let back into its place.
What to see
You look out over the spot from the confluence of the two rivers, at the foot of old Cosenza. There is no monument: what you admire is the river itself, the bridges and the cityscape. Plaques and civic references recall the legend, and for centuries the area has drawn the curious, scholars and mystery hunters.
Curiosities and legends
It is said that those who dug the tomb were killed to keep the place secret. Since then the treasure has never been found, despite centuries of searches and expeditions. The mystery has inspired famous poems, including a celebrated ballad by a German poet devoted to the burial in the river.
How to visit
The confluence of the two rivers is easy to reach from central Cosenza, along the riverside walks and the bridges linking the old town to the new. It is an evocative stop, especially at sunset. Let your imagination run free and mark this legendary place on your treasure map.
