In ancient origins, Cetraro was probably the first seaside town bruzia.

The story is typical of Cetraro dell'antiche seaside city.
Invasa, robbed, partly ditrutta and strenuously defence. Object of desire of the barbarians invading, Cetraro fought several times over the years to protect its assets, its people, its pride.
Once the ancient greatness cetrarese was due not only to the flourishing trade, but especially the existence of a convenient and secure natural harbour, at the mouth of the river Aron, which caresses the side of the promontory on which the city is located.
The shipyards, the arsenal, many mills that scorgevano near the "Gate of the sea" have contributed to making this area a wonderful centre and a landmark of trades throughout the Kingdom of Naples and southern Italy.
Cetraro, in time belonged to Norman Robert Guiscardo, then the Abbey of Montecassino Benedictine in 1086, which administered through the work of a vicar, had its headquarters in the palace, built in 1091 and located in the Old Town.
At the beginning of the sixteenth century., Cetraro lived moments flourishing both economic and political but primarily cultural. And this is the century that saw the birth personality as Albenzio Rossi, Francesco Pirrino intimate friend of the Medici family and Pope Leo X, Cesare Optatus that published his philosophical works along with those of Savonarola.
The rise Cetrarese was then blocked by the ferocity of the infidels incursions, Turkish, headed Kair-ed-Din-Barbarossa, devastated the area in the month of August 1534. Were destroyed port, shipyards, burned seven galleys under construction commissioned by Charles V of Spain, some graves desecrated churches main killed forty people, most of the territory razziato, half the city. The invader turkish return in 1573 to complete his work devastating, but attenderli and beat them was the "Turricella" a place warning and defense that made fire and destroyed the enemy ships .. "
In 1834, the termination of ecclesiastical jurisdiction on Cetraro. But Cetraro still turns its gaze to the Abbey which was a beacon of spiritual light and that the population cetrarese led to a long and troubled period in which alternated moments of glory and moments of decadence.

The name Cetraro is probably due to production of cedar that was in the countryside surrounding although others believe that the origin is linked to the river Aron crossing its territory: Citra-Aron which stands for "country on this side of 'Aron. " This is the thesis less credited, as the Latin preposition citra was rediscovered it is not known how, it is not known by whom and also do not know what is "beyond" dell'Aron!

Another argument is that extravagant R. Sirri, a lecturer at the University of East Naples, according to which the name would have Jewish origins. According to Sirri, Jews sailing towards Santa Maria del Cedro to buy cedar used for their important festival, coming near the promontory cetrarese used to indicate how Kata-rion, a term to want to indicate that over the promontory was precisely the goal of their journey. It appears however that the most trusted name in the country is due to production of cedar.