Instead of the Italian Alps, Go Here... La Sila, the Mountains of Calabria

Can you imagine skiing in one of the hottest regions of Italy, surrounded by two seas and known for its enchanting coasts? Stop thinking, discover La Sila!

A mountainous plateau belonging to the Apennines, Sila is very different from the whole system for its geological structure similar to the Alps. In 1911, the British writer Norman Douglas, known for his masterpiece South Wind referred to it as "...a venerable granite plateau, which stood here when the proud Apennines were still dozing on the oozy bed of the ocean."

The highest peak, Mount Botte Donato, reaches 6400 feet in height. Sila has a continental climate characterized by copious snowfall until late March. Over the years, Sila has emerged for its ski resorts, ranking as some of the best in Italy. These avant-garde ski resorts include the Centro Fondo Carlomagno, Camigliatello, Villaggio Palumbo and Lorica.
 
The National Park of Calabria includes territories belonging to three provinces of Calabria: Cosenza, Catanzaro and Reggio Calabria. The first settlements from the Neolithic age, were discovered a few years ago along the river Cecita, where now stands the artificial lake of the same name. Another lake of great importance is Lago Arvo, created by the dam of a river, where from the northern shore you can visit the resort Lorica dominated by Mount Botte Donato.
 
In addition to the Wolves of Sila (symbol of the park and a protected species), the Giants of Sila are also well-known and a wonder to behold. Majestic larch pines over 400 years old, their trunks can rise to 150 feet high and have a diameter at the base of about 6 feet! Adventures among the Giants of Sila are the excursions to be carried out on foot or by mountain bike, following the suggestions made available by the Sila National Park site. The forest of Fallistro, in the municipality of Spezzano della Sila, stands out for its charm.

There are also excursions on horseback, cross-country and downhill skiing, sailing, canoeing, archery, and bird watching. These are just some of the activities you can do in Sila!  And the rich gastronomy of Sila are mushrooms, potatoes and chestnuts.

---

A unique adventure deserves a special mention, "il Treno della Sila" (Sila's Train). A journey made of steam whistles and the puffing of steam locomotives from the 1930s, with destination to one of the highest stations in Europe at 1400 meters. (http://www.trenodellasila.it)

Isn't it surprising to find a collection of forests, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, canyons, and snow capped mountains all in the middle of the Mediterranean, in the region between two seas?

Choose Hotel Paradiso and stay in the center of this wonderful region and discover it all!
https://www.hotelparadisofalerna.com/

Buon viaggio!

--Jerry Finzi