Hiking in the Timpe Rosse Canyon

Are you a nature and adventure lover? Come and explore the amazing Timpe Rosse Canyon in Calabria, in Zagarise, in the heart of the Sila Piccola in the province of Catanzaro.

Among the lesser-known but more evocative natural jewels of the Catanzaro area, the Timpe Rosse Canyon is a mysterious gorge, to be discovered with a well-organised excursion.

Let us enter the Timpe Rosse Canyon, in Zagarise, to discover a work of art sculpted directly by the hand of nature.

If you are wondering how to reach the Timpe Rosse Canyon in Calabria and what is the best way to organise your excursion, you are in the right place! The canyon is located in the municipality of Zagarise, a small town in the Sila National Park on the Catanzaro side. To reach the Timpe Rosse, you need only take a path, quite steep, that from the town of Zagarise leads directly to the base of the canyon. Before walking inside, admire the characteristic natural ‘’pinnacles‘’ that announce it: an area of unforgettable charm, rich in sculptures created by the erosion of atmospheric agents.

The Timpe Rosse in Zagarise identify an evocative gorge carved by the hand of nature over centuries of geological history: rainfall, winds and, above all, numerous watercourses, first and foremost the Uria torrent. Entering the Timpe Rosse Canyon, one feels swallowed up by the grandeur of the rocky walls and discovers the reason for the name itself: the Timpe Rosse in Zagarise, made of sandstone, take on a typical reddish colour because they are rich in iron minerals. Shades vary from light pink to deep red depending on the natural geometric shapes and the light of day, which lights them up with a flaming colour at sunset.

Any advice on how best to explore the Timpe Rosse Canyon on your own? Know that the excursion is not exactly easy, so it is recommended for those with a minimum of training: the average time is 2 hours, for a total length of 3 km and an altitude difference of 150 m. Access to the Timpe Rosse Canyon in Zagarise is free.

If you are wondering what to see and do after hiking in the Timpe Rosse Canyon, you are spoilt for choice! You are in the heart of an unspoilt territory, a stone's throw from the wonderful ‘’Valli Cupe‘’ Regional Park (Municipality of Sersale), where some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Calabria flow. Lovers of adrenalin-pumping adventures and outdoor activities should not miss a visit to the Zagarise Adventure Park.

Has hiking in the mountains whetted your appetite? A slice of homemade bread topped with Zagarise's excellent Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the perfect snack to start, since we are in one of Calabria's ‘’Oil Cities‘’. The numerous oil mills active in the area are certainly among the most interesting places to visit in this olive-growing portion of the Sila Piccola, as is the Museum of Olive Oil and Rural Civilisation, housed in an old building in the centre.    

A walk through the historical centre of Zagarise also allows visitors to admire the remains of the Norman Tower, with a cylindrical base, and to visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta (15th century) and the adjoining Museum of Sacred Art ‘’Silvestro Frangipane‘’, which exhibits some works recovered from the sacred buildings (in particular 36 paintings and a wooden bas-relief), dating from the 17th to the 19th century.