Weekend between Lorica and Lake Arvo

In the splendour of the Sila National Park, on the Cosenza side, lies one of the most beautiful Sila lakes, along whose shores it is possible to walk in the greenery, go hiking, horse riding or mountain biking, or simply stop for a picnic with typical Sila products.

We are in the enchanting ski resort of Lorica, in the municipality of San Giovanni in Fiore, which in spring, summer and autumn is tinged with the most beautiful colours of nature and welcomes groups of hikers and families who wish to spend a weekend at Lake Arvo.

Ready to immerse yourself in a relaxing weekend in Lorica? The tourist village in the heart of Sila Grande, in the province of Cosenza.

The gateway to the Sila National Park, Lorica is strategically located to reach the area's most beautiful attractions: a stone's throw from the ski resort of Camigliatello Silano, the historic centre of San Giovanni in Fiore, famous for the presence of the important Abbazia Florense of Abbot Gioacchino da Fiore, and the naturalistic basin of Lake Arvo.

The lake is one of the artificial reservoirs dotting Sila. In its waters live trout, eels, tench and carp; along its banks nest all year round the Herring Gull, protagonist of the birdwatching activities that can be practised.

Created between 1927 and 1931 to supply the area with hydroelectric power, Lake Arvo is today a true landmark for water and mountain sports in Calabria.

Rowing competitions and bike boat activities take place on its surface. An experience within everyone's reach, which literally means "floating bike" and which allows you to navigate Lake Arvo in the saddle of a special "two-wheeler": a bicycle on the water, very easy and safe to ride, mounted on two special floats that allow young and old to pedal on the surface of the lake.

For the more daring, we recommend the unmissable thrill of the new zip-line on Lake Arvo, the only one in Italy to cross the entire surface of a lake, fully enjoying the thrill of being suspended on a 600-metre steel cable.

The zip line is fun and safe, as it is accessed by wearing a special harness, under the expert guidance of professionals.

Quiet lovers and the ecologically-minded will find their ideal dimension on board the silent eco-friendly electric boat, for a gentle mini-cruise through the countryside.

If lakeside sport and contact with nature have whetted your appetite, you've come to the right place! A weekend in Lorica can only end with a taste of typical products from Sila.

The Cosenza Sila is criss-crossed by real "taste trails" that lead to some of Calabria's most renowned PDO and PGI products.

It starts with the queen of the mountains: the Patata Silana PGI.

The dense forests inhabited by the Sila wolf, the park's symbolic animal, give way to clearings where the tasty Patata della Sila PGI is cultivated. It is excellent eaten au naturel, simply roasted in the ashes with the peel and seasoned with salt and a drizzle of oil, fried or as the basis for recipes and typical dishes, among which the traditional patate 'mbacchiùse and potatoes and peppers (pipi e patati) stand out.

Another excellence of the area, fruit of the dairy art of the local shepherds, is the very sweet Caciocavallo Silano PDO, to be enjoyed grilled or accompanied by a nice board of Calabrian Salumi PDO (pancetta, capocollo, sausage and soppressata).

Two prized breeds graze in a semi-wild state among these woods, from which highly sought-after meat of absolute quality and healthy properties is obtained: the Podolica cattle breed and the Black Pig of Calabria, both of which are Slow Food Presidia and PAT (Traditional Food Product) categories.