5 proposals for relaxing in the snow in Calabria

Fancy a Christmas holiday of relaxation and wellness? Come to Calabria and discover the most beautiful proposals for relaxing in the snow, from the north to the south of the region.

Whether it is a skiing holiday with your family or a romantic weekend in the snow with your partner, Calabria offers various wellness experiences to share: spas and treatments at high altitude, gourmet tastings or a simple evening in the mountains with friends, around a fireplace.

Camigliatello Silano (CS)

In the heart of the Sila National Park, on the Cosenza side, the mountain hamlet of Camigliatello Silano (Municipality of Spezzano della Sila) offers the charm of snow-covered forests and mountain paths to be travelled in absolute relaxation.

In addition to the possibility of using the ski and ski-lift facilities (2 cable cars and 2 lifts), Camigliatello Silano welcomes visitors in winter in the warm atmosphere of its luxury hotels, equipped with spas and wellness centres with swimming pools overlooking the enchanting panorama of the Sila forests and Lake Cecita.

There is an enchanting atmosphere on Via Roma, amidst workshops and typical shops where you can buy the branded Sila products, Patata della Sila PGI and Caciocavallo Silano PDO, or stop directly for a taste in the characteristic restaurants and high altitude refuges.

The area is rich in prehistoric archaeological deposits along the shores of the lake, which have yielded fossils of an ancient elephant and other finds. Also of great historical interest is the Narrative Museum of Emigration "Nave della Sila".

Lorica (CS)

Another renowned Sila ski resort in the province of Cosenza, the nearby town of Lorica (municipality of San Giovanni in Fiore) is an ideal destination for a relaxing weekend in the snow for couples.

Here you can rely on the professionalism of accommodation facilities and wellness centres that offer the thrill of lake-view hydromassage pools, in which to plunge with your partner while sipping a therapeutic herbal tea.

Treatments and customised programmes make Lorica an oasis of peace, ideal for disconnecting from routine and carving out a weekend of wellness.

Not to be missed is a relaxing walk on the shores of Lake Arvo and a visit to the village at the foot of Mount Botte Donato.

Villaggio Palumbo (KR)

Still in Sila, this time on the Crotone side, we reach the beauty of Villaggio Palumbo, a historic ski resort in the municipality of Cotronei, on the slopes of Mount Gariglione.

Once again, the landscape is characterised by the evocative lake flora and fauna of Lake Ampollino, around which huts and cosy shelters are arranged.

Here too, in addition to the possibility of skiing on various slopes, lovers of relaxation in the mountains can enjoy the offer of the Palumbosila holiday park, where they can practise sports and excursions, taste typical dishes and products, such as Pecorino Crotonese PDO, and take part in the entertainment for young and old.

Villaggio Mancuso (CZ)

A similar experience, but immersed in a fairytale setting, similar to transalpine scenery, can also be had on the side of the so-called Sila Piccola, in the province of Catanzaro, among the Tyrolean-style houses of Villaggio Mancuso, a picturesque residential complex in the municipality of Taverna.

Born out of the entrepreneurial dream that led the Mancuso family to recreate a corner of Switzerland in Sila in the 1960s, the village is still one of the most popular destinations for the people of Catanzaro and beyond in every season, although winter has a special charm here.

An idyll of small houses and hotels with fairy-tale architecture, as witnessed by the two symbolic buildings of the complex: the restaurant "La Rotonda", with its unmistakable circular shape, and the historic "Albergo delle Fate" (entirely carved in wood), which, as its name suggests, preserves timeless stories and legends inside.

Gambarie d’Aspromonte (RC)

Finally, those in search of relaxation with a sea view will find it in the cosy ski resort of Gambarie d'Aspromonte, a mountain resort in the municipality of Santo Stefano d'Aspromonte, where the ski slopes look out over the Strait and Mount Etna.

Those who reach this peak to enjoy wellness and spa treatments will find their paradise at the area's renowned hotels, which on special occasions also offer gourmet lunches and dinners based on excellent local Aspromonte products.

Various types of excursions into the Aspromonte National Park start from the Church of the Sacro Cuore in the central square.