My wife and I are from New York City and traveled many times, exploring and enjoying many regions in Italy. For the past two weeks, we have had wonderful experiences on the Western and Eastern Coasts of Calabria. One fantastic day was exploring Sila National Park. In particular, we visited the Biogenetic Natural Reserve of the "Giant Pines of Sila"', also known as the Giants of Fallistro, at Spezzano della Sila, in the province of Cosenza. It's a magnificent ancient pine forest about 400 years old. The spectacular Giant Pines of Sila reminded us of the giant Redwoods and Sequoias in California. Walking through the well-designed trail through the site of the Giant Pines was like walking through a majestic, natural cathedral. Many of the giant pines are more than 40 meters in height. Throughout our walk, birds constantly sang -- the experience was uplifting. A major highlight of our experience was meeting Simona Lo Bianco, the director of the "Giant Pines of Sila" protective site. She provided us with a helpful and thorough understanding of the history and ecological importance of the giant pines. Since we're from the U.S.A., Simona spoke excellent English, which enabled us to better appreciate the beauty of the forest, wildlife, and the efforts by the Italian government to protect nature and the environment. She's extremely knowledgeable and very welcoming to questions about the forest and environmental responsibility. We highly recommend this experience in Sila National Park

Unspoilt nature, peaceful , relaxing place , visit if you are nearby

The Sila National Park is located in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It is a vast protected area known for its natural beauty, diverse ecosystems, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Here's some information about the Sila National Park: Geography and Landscape: The Sila National Park covers a vast area of approximately 74,000 hectares (183,000 acres) in the central part of Calabria. It encompasses the mountainous regions of the Sila Grande, Sila Greca, and Sila Piccola. The landscape is characterized by dense forests, high plateaus, deep valleys, and picturesque lakes. Biodiversity: The park is renowned for its rich biodiversity, housing a wide variety of plant and animal species. The forests are primarily composed of beech, pine, and fir trees. Wildlife includes deer, wild boar, wolves, and various bird species. Activities and Recreation: The Sila National Park offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. Hiking and trekking are popular, with a network of trails that take visitors through the stunning landscapes and to viewpoints with panoramic vistas. The park also has designated areas for picnicking, camping, and cycling. Lakes and Waterfalls: The park boasts several lakes, the most famous being Lake Arvo, Lake Cecita, and Lake Ampollino. These lakes provide opportunities for boating, fishing, and water sports. The area is also dotted with waterfalls, such as the Cascata del Marmarico, which adds to the natural beauty of the park. Cultural Heritage: The Sila region has a rich cultural heritage, with traditional villages and historical sites. Visitors can explore charming towns like San Giovanni in Fiore and Camigliatello Silano, known for their distinctive architecture and cultural traditions. Skiing: During the winter months, the Sila National Park transforms into a popular ski destination. The mountainous terrain and reliable snowfall make it an ideal spot for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. The Sila National Park offers a serene and unspoiled natural environment, perfect for those seeking outdoor adventures, scenic beauty, and a break from urban life. Its combination of diverse ecosystems, recreational activities, and cultural heritage make it a captivating destination in southern Italy.

We had a nice visit.

Absolutely stunning, without doubt one of the most beautiful places imaginable!

The park seems to be well managed - everything looks clean and fresh even though we visited right at the end of the tourist season. Posted maps of walking trails are useful and the actual trails seem to be marked out well.

Compared to many other "attractions" in the area, the park is actually very nice. At the starting point of the routes you will find English speaking guides that explain the different routes. The shortest one is 3 kilometers, the longer ones kann easaliy be 10 kilometers and above. There is a little zoo at the end of the 3k roundtrip, but we did not see any animals.

Pure nature environment. Beautiful and peaceful. Small river, many trees and rocks.

Wunderschön! Abwechslungsreiche Landschaft mit ganz unterschiedlichen Zielen. Das Klima ist auch im Hochsommer angenehm. Wenngleich die Anreise etwas beschwerlich ist über die Straßen in meist schlechtem Zustand und vielen, vielen Kurven so lohnt sich ein Ausflug dennoch sehr!

Mashallah, beautiful nature with beautiful flowers. May our almighty Lord Allah give us a mercy, Ameen.

We recomend also the trip with a hictorical train called Il treno de Silla

After 30 min you basically feel like a new person ! The air is amazing and the view fantastic. P.s. there is a friendly dog , so grab something and give him to eat :)

There's everything and more from 7000 beds to a leisure walk a ride on a quad bike to a stride of a horse. Its a 360 view of a forest atop a mountain that lets nature trive with a mesmerizing lake that goes on to over 8km Just Amazing

So beautiful, but beware there are signs for wolves! I personally haven't seen any. Some parts (near Longabucco for one) you can off road in your 4x4 if that's your thing! Some picturesque villages in the Sila National Park.

(Translated by Google) Breathe in your lungs! (Original) Respirare la libertà a pieni polmoni!

(Translated by Google) Say wonderful and little, a paradise. (Original) Dire stupendo e poco,un paradiso.

(Translated by Google) Breathtaking passage ... beautiful and clean place. Excellent for a different day out of everyday life (Original) Passaggio mozza fiato... posto bellissimo e pulito. Ottimo per una giornata diversa fuori dalla quotidianità

(Translated by Google) Beautiful (Original) Splendido

(Translated by Google) It is accessed through a path, above Petrona ', which leads into the pine, oak and beech forest. This brings us to the two streams (I don't know what they are called) which cross gorges covered entirely by thick, soft and fresh moss. Then you come to what remains of a refuge, called 'del brigante', which is located on the right bank of a stream. Beautiful place, fresh and sparkling air, absolute silence interrupted only by the typical noises of the place. (Original) Si accede attraverso un sentiero, sopra Petrona', che si inoltra nel bosco di pini, querce e faggi. Si raggiungono così i due corsi d'acqua (non so come si chiamano) che attraversano delle gole coperte interamente da folto, soffice e fresco muschio. Quindi si giunge a ciò che rimane di un rifugio, detto 'del brigante', che si trova sulla riva destra di un torrente. Posto bellissimo, aria fresca e frizzante, silenzio assoluto interrotto solo dai rumori tipici del luogo.

(Translated by Google) Always to be visited with a lot of love and pride unique in the world (Original) Sempre da visitare con tanto amore e orgoglio unico al mondo

(Translated by Google) No need for words: you have to go there (Original) Non c'è bisogno di parole:bisogna andarci

(Translated by Google) Spectacular (Original) Spettacolare

(Translated by Google) Lovely place the guided paths in the park are beautiful for those who love hiking You can park near the lake with the camper Not suitable for overnight stay .. For the night of can go s 5 km to Camigliatello Silano ample parking many campers stay overnight is free for the night (Original) Posto incantevole i sentieri guidati nel parco sono bellissimi per chi ama fare escursioni Si può sostare vicino al lago con il camper Non adatto per il pernottamento.. Per la notte di può andare s 5 km a Camigliatello Silano parcheggio ampio molti camper pernottano è gratuito per la notte

(Translated by Google) Fully immersed in nature, it offers the opportunity to walk and discover landscapes, typical local animals. There are dining and equipped areas. A few minutes from the center of Camigliatello (Original) Pienamente immerso nella natura offre la possibilità di camminare e scoprire paesaggi, animali tipici del luogo. Sono presenti aree ristoro e attrezzate. A pochi minuti dal centro di Camigliatello

Bring your own grill. Nice to utilize and enjoy the fresh mountain air. Needs waste bins because some people just leave their mess.

(Translated by Google) Gorgeous !!!!!! Unforgettable place ?? (Original) Stupendo !!!!!! Posto indimenticabile ??

(Translated by Google) AND BEAUTIFUL YOU CAN GO WITH YOUR FAMILY CON AND WITH YOUR FRIENDS EAT SLEEP ? IN QUIET (Original) E BELLO CI PUOI ANDARE IN FAMIGLIA ? E CON GLI AMICI MANGI DORMI ? IN TRANQUILLITÀ

The weather was beautiful. Sunny and cool.

(Translated by Google) Very nice park (Original) Parco molto bello

It is nice open vegetation but could be curated a bit better to provide resting places

Vero beautifull place

Love this place 😍

Clean and quiet. A wonderful place!

It's a beautiful park full of really nice natural features

Aria sana e pulita, cibo ottimo, cosa desiderare di più.

(Translated by Google) enchanting (Original) Incantevole

Ciò casa.

(Translated by Google) Superb (Original) Stupendo

(Translated by Google) Lots of nature (Original) Molta natura

Bellissimooooooooo !!!!

Tutta natura da scoprire!

(Translated by Google) Very beautiful (Original) Molto bello

L'aria più pulita d'Europa. What else?

(Translated by Google) Longobucco picnic area: nice place, clean and fresh air, step picnic area with clear and freezing fountains, comfortable tables and barbecues that are well suited to welcoming those who go to the mountains for a day with friends. Too bad, however, x the neglect and neglect of a common good and of those who should evaluate this place and advertise it, however it is a beautiful day. (Original) Area picnic Longobucco: bel posto, aria pulita e fresca, area picnic a gradoni con fontane limpide e gelate, tavoli e barbecue comodi e che si prestano bene all'accoglienza di chi va in montagna x una giornata in compagnia. Peccato però x la trascuratezza e l'incuria di un bene comune e di chi questo luogo dovrebbe valutarlo e pubblicizzarlo, comunque sia una bella giornata.

Beautiful peaceful place, exquisite air.

Breath of fresh air in the hills of Catanzaro and only a short drive from the city

Best place to breathe fresh/clean air

Nice place for trail hiking, and grilling.

I am a bit biased because I grow up there but it is probably the best place in the world! A breathtaking upland with various landscapes, you will feel really into the wild. Really variate flora and fauna. The food over there is also really authentic, do not forget to try the typical food of the area (e.g., provola silana and all the selection of mushrooms).

Nice natural location

One of the more most gorgeous park I've ever seen for its uncontaminated nature

(Translated by Google) ideal place to spend days surrounded by nature, with the possibility of outdoor recreation from hiking to kayaking (Original) posto ideale per passare intere giornate immersi nella natura, con la possibilità di fare sport all'aperto dalle escursioni al kayak

(Translated by Google) I invite the Calabrians who, despite having done so, to visit it and the others to come and see you. (Original) Invito i calabresi che nonostante l'hanno fatto a visitarlo e agli altri a venirti a vedere.

(Translated by Google) If you don't come, you can't understand it ...... ❤️ (Original) Se non ci vieni non lo puoi capire......❤️

(Translated by Google) fantastic place pure air (Original) posto fantastico aria purissima

(Translated by Google) It feels like home! In the plateau at 1200m you can breathe pure oxygen, an avant-garde tourist area with medium / high level shops. I recommend a stop. If it weren't for the long, winding road I would go back tomorrow ... (Original) Sembra di essere a casa! Nell'altopiano a 1200m si respira ossigeno puro, zona turistica all'avanguardia con negozi di livello medio/alto. Consiglio una sosta. Se non fosse per la strada lunga e tortuosa ci tornerei domani...

(Translated by Google) pure air ideal for a day in close contact with nature (Original) aria pura l'ideale per una giornata a stretto contatto con la natura

(Translated by Google) Suggestive! It is a reality to be "preserved" ... unfortunately most people have no respect for the environment ... (Original) Suggestivo ! È una realtà da “conservare”... purtroppo la maggior parte della gente non ha rispetto per l’ambiente...

(Translated by Google) Simply Sila (Original) Semplicemente Sila

(Translated by Google) We stayed with my family on this mountain route near Camigliatello Silano and Lake Cecita. A MAGNIFICENT FOREST! This wonder of Calabria is one of the best places to spend the holidays also the air is not polluted and is very clean, I recommend this park to everyone. (Original) Siamo stati con la mia famiglia su questo percorso di montagna vicino a Camigliatello Silano e il Lago Cecita. UNA FORESTA MAGNIFICA! Questa meraviglia della Calabria è uno dei posti migliore per passare le vacanze inoltre l'aria non essendo inquinamento è pulitissima, consiglio questo parco a tutti.

Beatiful place. Very nice for barbecues and to lye down on the grass, close to the Lake.

(Translated by Google) enchanting (Original) Incantevole

(Translated by Google) Villaggio Pino Grande (Savelli), villas surrounded by greenery, fantastic, with spring temperatures (Original) Villaggio Pino Grande (Savelli) , villette immerse nel verde, fantastico, con temperatura primaverile

(Translated by Google) Superb; fresh and clean air. Trees, lots of greenery, picnic areas and beautiful paths. Highly recommended. (Original) Stupendo; aria fresca e pulitissima. Alberi, tanto verde, aree attrezzate e sentieri bellissimi. Vivamente consigliato.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful so much unspoiled nature. Fresh and pure air. Trekking rivers lakes mountains ... everything. (Original) Bellissimo tanta natura incontaminata. Aria fresca e pura. Trekking fiumi laghi monti...tutto.

(Translated by Google) Fresh (Original) Fresco

(Translated by Google) Very beautiful park thanks to the nature and fauna among which it is possible to meet: badger, fox, stone marten, skunk, weasel, marten, wild boar, red deer and roe deer. but it is not very organized for guided excursions, moreover there are also no road signs to get there easily but this problem is not very important as you can ask someone on the spot or using some navigator. Finally, the road to get there is not the best because there are many curves including a couple without signs. But all in all when you arrive at the place you are enchanted by nature. (Original) Parco molto bello grazie alla natura e alla fauna tra cui é possibile incontrare: tasso, la volpe, la faina, la puzzola, la donnola, la martora, il cinghiale, il cervo ed il capriolo. ma non è molto organizzato per effettuare escursioni guidate, inoltre mancano anche le indicazioni stradali per arrivare facilmente ma questo problema non è molto importante in quanto si può chiedere a qualcuno sul posto oppure utilizzando qualche navigatore. Infine la strada per arrivare non è delle migliori perché sono presenti molte curve tra cui un paio sproviste di segnali. Ma tutto sommato quando arrivi sul luogo rimani incantaro dalla natura.

(Translated by Google) Visit card to the park this morning. (Original) Biglietto di visita al parco, questa mattina.