One-Day Itinerary



From the popular resort town of Camigliatello, start the day with a visit to the Giant Pines of Fallistro Nature Reserve just outside town. Then, leaving the main Cosenza-Crotone road (N.107), head toward Lago Cecita and adjacent farmland. Lago Cecita is one of seven artificial lakes that border the park, which were created earlier last century for hydroelectric power. Despite their non-natural origin, they are attractive bodies of water, quite in harmony with the surrounding high altitude plain.

At Lago Cecita one could tour the Park Visitor Center, then enter the Park on N.282 (a right turn soon after the Visitor Center). The road becomes immersed in the pine forest - be sure to stop and admire the stands at Fossiato, where one could walk nature trail #4 (see following section) or enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the tables. From Fossiato, follow the signs for Longobucco, reached after a curving half-hour descent. After touring the village, one could continue north toward the Greek ruins of Sibari and the historical town of Rossano, or retrace the road back to the national park. If there is not too much snow the higher road through the center of the Sila is highly recommended. After ascending the curves from Longobucco, take a left at the intersection instead of a right back toward Fossiato, then take your first right shortly in the direction of S. Giovanni in Fiore.


This long, narrow road, which becomes iced over in winter, winds through the heart of the forest. Few pass this way, as the road crosses no other villages or habitations until practically S. Giovanni in Fiore, many kilometers away. It is a truly enchanted passage; the complete serenity of the pines all but compels one to pause. One is strongly reminded of the poem "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost:

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

The poet could have been describing Calabria's Sila just as easily as his Vermont, USA.

After visiting the Abbazia Florense of S. Giovanni in Fiore, one could return to Camigliatello or Cosenza by going west on the N. 107, or Crotone by following the same road in the opposite direction.



Back to:
DolceVita travel italy