Spezzano della Sila

The jewel in the crown of the Spezzano della Sila area is the Shrine of San Francesco di Paola, patron saint of Calabria, a pilgrimage destination along the Saint Francis Path (stage of the variant ‘’The Way of the Monasteries‘’). The Shrine of Spezzano is the third of the churches built by the saint and is located in the historic centre. It houses several 18th-century wooden works of art; other important works can be found in the Church of San Biagio (15th century) and the 16th-century Church of San Pietro.

The mountain territory of Spezzano offers holiday possibilities for all tastes! Of great natural beauty, Lake Cecita is a reference point for sports fishing enthusiasts, as well as an important archaeological site. Remains of Neanderthal Man and some prehistoric elephants have emerged along its shores. All around, the Sila peaks (Croce di Magara and Monte Cupone) rise up, a destination for skiers who in winter choose the snow-covered slopes of Camigliatello Silano to spend a skiing holiday in Calabria.

Those wishing to discover the secrets of the mountains can take a trip to the ‘’Cupone‘’ Visitor Centre, close to the lake. This is an area of environmental education and outreach perfect for young and old, equipped with nature trails, wildlife observatories, a museum, a geological garden and a botanical garden accessible to the disabled and the visually impaired. The latter extends 350 metres and includes 115 native species of Calabrian mountain flora. The Cupone Centre leads to the area where the famous ‘’Giants of Fallistro‘’, the monumental, centuries-old trees that make up the Nature Reserve of the same name, stand out. Finally, not to be missed is ‘’The Ship of the Sila‘’: an ancient cow shed that has become a museum of emigration, with photographic collections, illustrations, old magazines and direct evidence of the phenomenon.