Gallopane Nature Reserve

The Gallopane Biogenetic Nature Reserve is a monumental forest in the municipality of Longobucco, in the province of Cosenza, in the heart of the Sila National Park. Composed of the so-called “Giants of Gallopane”, firs, larch pines and centuries-old beeches, the Gallopane Nature Reserve offers its lush undergrowth only to lovers of trekking and eco-sustainable excursions; motor vehicles can only access it with prior authorisation from the Carabinieri Forestry Corps.

This extraordinary ancient forest, at the centre of the ancient “Silva Brutia”, was already known to the Romans for its large Laricio pine trees (140 cm in diameter, 40 m high, 180-200 years old). The “Giants of Gallopane” are true historical and natural monuments: the resin channels that run along the trunks have been used since ancient times to extract resin for use as insulation and fuel for torches. In recent times, however, turpentine essence has been extracted and used in the paint industry as a thinner.