Overview
Italy’s Great Forest
Located on the largest plateau in Europe, the Sila National Park covers the Calabrian provinces of Cosenza, Catanzaro and Crotone, with an area of 180,000 acres.
Covered in thick forests, interrupted by beautiful man-made lakes, it boasts extraordinary scenery and many attractions. These include mountain bike excursions on the cycle routes between plateaus and valleys, but also walking trails along the ancient Sila paths, surrounded by springs, mills, castles, abbeys and sanctuaries. One of the most original ways to explore the wonders of the park is on horseback, riding past interesting sites, from the “Giganti della Sila” trees standing up to 45 metres tall, to the old sheep-tracks used by brigands.
When the snow falls, lovers of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing enter into perfect symbiosis with the silence of unspoilt nature, far from the crowded ski slopes. In the summertime, however, the main activities shift to the artificial lakes, where sailing, canoeing and paddle boarding are popular choices.
The rich fauna of the Sila National Park is a huge attraction for nature lovers and offers thousands of opportunities for birdwatching and nature photography.
