Are you a digital nomad looking for free Wi-Fi during your stay in Cosenza, Calabria?
If you’re a digital nomad, then connection is crucial to your work. If you travel long-term, constant connection can also be difficult.
Digital nomads and travellers are always looking for free Wi-Fi hot spots, especially as internet cafes fast become a thing of the past in many countries.
Reason for needing free Wi-Fi in Cosenza? The connection in my apartment died and I never have data on my phone, which forces me to hunt for hotspots.
A rant on my internet woes later in this post – be warned.
Where is Cosenza?
Situated in the deep south of southern Italy, Calabria doesn’t see an influx of tourists and neither does the city of Cosenza, which is a good enough reason to visit and spend time here…
If you do, then check out my many posts on Calabria and also on Italy as I also include free travel tips in my posts.
Where in Cosenza are the free Wi-Fi spots?
After scouring the city in search of Wi-Fi as Cosenza doesn’t believe in internet cafes, I’ve included the few that I found over 10 days. Not many at all as most locals have data on their phones.
Delizie Pasticceria
Along Corso Mazzini 3/8, this Pasticceria is by far the best and my favourite for great Wi-Fi (password required).
Excellent friendly staff provide great service, whilst serving wonderful pastries and savouries. Lunch and dinner are also available, so this is my first choice. Why not try a delicious Aperitivo whilst you’re working?
Spending hours here over the ten days, staff never kicked me out, although I did buy food and drink in this comfortable spot. Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 06:30am-12:00am.
The Ice Cafe
On Via Alimena 50/52, this great cosy cafe offers good Wi-Fi connection (password required) and serves average-priced beverages. Great friendly staff and stays open until midnight.
Pleasant outdoor seating…
Renzelli Cafe
This cafe on Piazza dei Bruzi 27, advertises free Wi-Fi on the front window.
Although, asking two days in a row and having my head almost snapped off by grumpy staff advising they didn’t have the password, I gave up.
Renzelli does serve great coffee, pastries, and Gelato as I’ve frequented this cafe several times. Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 7:00am-09:00pm.
McDonald’s
Only recently opened in 2018, McDonald’s in Piazza C. Bilotti offers hit and miss Wi-Fi (password not required).
Only savour a Twinings fragrant fruit tea on each visit so I can withstand the awful fatty aroma of McDonald’s food for the couple of hours. Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 07:00am-12:00am, Sunday 08:00am-12:00am.
Corso Mazzini
Stroll through Corso Mazzini until you find the “WI-FI AREA” sign near the Tosti cafe. I only discovered this one recently, so not sure if it belongs to the cafe or the public Corso.
Stone seats are provided in the corso if you don’t want to be a patron at the cafe. Tosti opening hours: Monday-Sunday 06:30am-11:30pm.
If you don’t want to read about my internet rant, then stop here…
Why did I start looking for free Wi-Fi?
Ten days ago, the paid internet connection in my apartment died suddenly.
Wind (carrier) insisted that it’s a fault with my laptop and other 3 devices, not their connection. Disagreeing, I drag my laptop and devices to a bar/cafe. Everything hooks up on the first go.
The Wind saga
After 2 days of phone calls, Wind confirms the line is working but my barely one-month old modem is not.
Side story: I have a new modem because Wind throttled my bandwidth during the 2 previous months until my connection almost ground to a halt. I’m told this forces Wind customers to increase monthly payment to the next higher plan plus hire a new modem.
On with the saga…
Waiting for a new modem
The 19th: Wind advises that the modem is sent – delivery will take 1 to 5 days. Arguing that I have three Wind shops within a five-minute walk and can immediately swap the modem over – I’m not allowed this solution. Instead, I must wait until another modem arrives from Milan with DHL Express.
The 21st: Checking progress, Wind advises the modem was sent on the 20th and to phone DHL – Wind doesn’t can’t provide a consignment number. DHL is less than helpful and advises my parcel may arrive by the 26th.
More calls to Wind to be told that it’s in DHL’s hands. One helpful Wind guy does try to bring the delivery date forward – no luck. A text arrives confirming the 26th is the delivery date.
My landlord kindly drops off a Wind mobile router. This won’t work unless I pay €15 euros for 50MB. Nothing free from Wind during this downtime and I’m still paying my monthly internet fee. Uploading large files to my Nilla’s Photography site, I’d burn through 50MB with just 5 files. Each day I lug my gear to the bar/cafes in Cosenza providing free Wi-Fi.
More calls to Wind and DHL with ever-changing stories.
Salt to the wounds
The 26th: 10:29am a DHL van drives up my road, but the van swiftly turns off before my junction never to be seen again.
I phone Wind.
The ‘Customer Service’ female barks: “madam, you have to be patient”.
An example of the rudeness and absolute appalling non-existent customer service from Wind over the last 10 days.
Arrival
The 27th: my phone rings, DHL is downstairs but won’t deliver the parcel to the second floor.
Just out of the shower with a towel around my head, I wrap a sarong around me and throw on a heavy jumper before racing down stairs to meet the driver.
Swapping the parcels over we part company and I race back.
Opening the box, the new modem’s filter is missing, so can’t use the internet – no connection.
Back down I race hoping the DHL van is still outside.
Barefoot under the pouring rain in the middle of the city I race across traffic, towel still wrapped around my head and jump into the van, giving the driver quite a startle.
Lucky he’s on the phone and hasn’t left yet. Taking my old filter back, I race back across in the rain and up to the apartment, whilst locals look on in disbelief…everyone dresses well in Cosenza.
Connection at last!
At last connection, but with more salt to the wounds.
The consignment note is dated the 22nd with delivery for the 26th. Wind lied to me about both sent dates and DHL should have delivered on the 26th – still don’t understand why.
Dearly wanting to change carriers after Wind’s treatment and 2.5 years as a customer, I can’t as the contract is in my landlord’s name.
Still, it’s lovely here…a view of the gorgeous Old Town in Cosenza.
Visit Nilla’s Photography for more global images. More posts on Italy.
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