A day in Villaggio Mancuso, in the heart of the Sila Piccola

Did you know that there is a typical Tyrolean village in Calabria?

It is Villaggio Mancuso, in the Sila Piccola, in the province of Catanzaro.

Born in the 1920s from the dream of Catanzaro entrepreneur Eugenio Mancuso, the tourist village of the same name in the heart of the Sila National Park (Villaggio Mancuso) is a real jewel of a Tyrolean-style holiday resort.

Villaggio Mancuso falls within the municipal territory of Taverna, a locality famous for being the birthplace of the painter Mattia Preti, the so-called "Calabrian Knight". This is the starting point to immerse yourself in the 'slow' and fairytale-like reality of Villaggio Mancuso.

From Taverna, Villaggio Mancuso can be reached in just a few minutes.

This fairy-tale place, a favourite retreat of the people of Catanzaro, is immersed in the "Poverella-Villaggio Mancuso" Nature Reserve, within the larger Sila National Park. Villaggio Mancuso extends into a forest of beech and larch pines, in whose greenery dozens of small wooden houses with colourful frames and sloping roofs stand out.

From the dream of recreating a corner of Switzerland in the centre of Calabria, came Villaggio Mancuso (Sila) and a series of unmissable places to visit: the small wooden churches for the worship of holidaymakers; the hotels (among which the legendary Albergo delle Fate, no longer open to visitors); the post office and the unmissable "La Rotonda" restaurant.

A true "Instagrammable" icon of Villaggio Mancuso, "La Rotonda" takes its name from its unmistakable circular shape. The red and white exterior, as well as the interiors upholstered in the Tyrolean style, tell a glorious story, made up of famous guests: from Benito Mussolini to Sofia Loren, passing by Pope John Paul XXIII.

Not to be missed, during a trip to Villaggio Mancuso, is a stop at the "Monaco-Garcea" Visitor Centre.

Immersed in the forest, the Visitor Centre offers adults and children the thrill of discovering the flora and fauna of the Sila Piccola up close, told through exhibition panels, specimens and a series of playful-educational activities. These are complemented by the always exciting tale of agro-forestry life in the past.

What to do in Villaggio Mancuso? You will be spoilt for choice in all seasons!

Summer is the ideal time to go hiking in the Sila National Park. Villaggio Mancuso is the starting/finishing point of the official hiking trails, being at the centre of the 'Sila Piccola' tourist area, composed of the equally fascinating localities of Villaggio Racise, Buturo, Cutura, Pantane, Monaco and Tirivolo.

In spring, it is pleasant to take a tour of the Calabrian lakes, either by boat or on foot, by bicycle (along the Parks Cycle Route) or on horseback, for a 'slow living' holiday.

Autumn at Villaggio Mancuso is the perfect season to taste the countless first fruits of the forest, some of which are excellences of Calabrian agri-food products: from the sweetest Sila PGI Potato to the equally sweet grilled Caciocavallo Silano PDO, not to mention the delicacies of mushrooms, chestnuts, honey and Sila cold cuts.

Lastly, winter at Villaggio Mancuso, a stone's throw from the nearby ski resorts of Sila (Cosenza and Crotone), offers the thrill of classic snowshoeing in the woods or the simple relaxation of a hot chocolate in front of the fireplace, in one of the comfortable rented chalets and hotels.

There is no shortage of "snow view" spa and wellness services, perfect for couples, and the "gourmet" proposals of the mountain chefs.