Day 2: a trip to... the Sila

 

Good day everyone!
Hope your first trip to my land was interesting as you wished!
Today I'd like to introduce a place many kilometres away from my city: the very fascinating mountain area of Sila, Calabria.
First of all, once you arrive in Calabria to the International airport of Lamezia or Reggio Calabria, I suggest to rent a car... this marvellous region has not a very strong system of communication by train. There are no ways to discover this land with your own car, stopping wherever you want in any moment...

I reccomend to find a spot as your base to then depart to find out the region: a right place could be Cosenza.
150,000 hectars with lakes, mounts, campings, hotels and agriturismo where to practice your favourite activity. We are in the extreme South of the peninsula, along three provinces, Cosenza, Catanzaro and Crotone.

Cosenza is a city that mixes perfectly centuries of history, tradition and culture and a modern kind, with a good university, nice shops and many hotels. Capitals of the Bruzi, a Pre-roman population, called the Calabrian Athens for its cultural performance in the past, it was the city of the second most important Accademy of studies in the Kingdom of Naples and in general in Europe.
Walking through Corso Telesio it is easy to arrive at the Cathedral, chosen by UNESCO as a World Heritage as a symbol of peace in the world. Theatres, villas, churches make Cosenza one of the most refined cultural centre of the entire Southern Italy. In the proximity of the town, there are many other places that are worth a visit.

North of Cosenza: Altomonte is a small village of mountain rich of art and history, being one of the favourite places of Queen Joana of Naples. In one of its several museum it is supposed to be conserved one of the thorns of the crown worn by Jesus on the cross. Many legends explain how this amazing object could arrive there... A vist to the Civic Museum is needed!

Not far from Altomonte, one of the city which lost a great part of its population because of the early 20th century migration was Morano Calabro. Even if today people are less then 50% with respect to 1900's, the village calls every year thousands of toursits because of its position like a painting. Small and narrow streets, a lot of up and down and several people very happy to spend a time chatting with visitors especially if from abroad.


Through the Sila and especially towards the Province of Crotone, many lakes, bike lanes, agriturismi and also ski restorts are a useful idea to stop, enjoy and breath the real territory!
My opinion is about San Giovanni in Fiore, the highest and most populated city of Italy, 17,000 people at 1,119 m.l.s.This is the place of the Abbay Florense, one of the biggest and most important churches of the region. In this part of Sila, it snows very frequently in winter time and in the past the area was isoletd for many months during the year.
Good place to stop for a good lunch, having the pitta, the local bread made since generations with a popular tradition, the antipasto silano, mix of local vegetables including the local famous Silan potatoe. A roasted pork is perfect to finsh your meal, of course including a zeppola as a dessert, a sort of Southern Italy beignet, prepared in the Silan variety with baked black cherries.

Finally, a nice place to stop is Santa Severina: it could be the begenning or the end or your trip to the Sila: hidden in the mountains, can be recognized only when the main road starts to climb up to the the amazing old wall, part of the perfectly conserved Castle of Santa Serverina. This village was conquered and ruled by several population and the result was a combination of style in culture, architecture and tradition. Many Bizantines tracks are evident in the streets of this very relaxing spot.


Don't forget to stop in one of the many botteghe of the Sila to try traditional salami, cheese and drink a local wine: a Verbicaro Rosso, produced with Gaglioppo, Greco Nero or Bianco, Guarnaccia and Malvasia grapes. Perfect to taste with salami, fowl, spicy dishes, typical of the Calabrian tradition!
Another good variety is the Verbicaro Bianco, produced with Greco Bianco, Malvasia Bianca and Guarnaccia grapes. Perfect to taste with sea food salads of the Ionic coast.