Spezzano Della Sila: Nature, Forest and Culture

Spezzano Della Sila offers a multifaceted gateway to the Sila: nature, forests and cultural history stand side by side here. The municipality is home to Lago Cecita, among other places, an artificial lake in the province of Cosenza and in the Sila Grande. With Cupone, exceptional natural sites, religious destinations and historic railway traces, the range extends from quiet observation to clearly defined travel interests. If you would like to combine landscapes and culture on an individual trip to Italy, Spezzano Della Sila offers several specific starting points for doing so.

Nature around Lago Cecita and Cupone

Cupone is a locality near Lago Cecita in the municipality of Spezzano della Sila. The Centro Visita Cupone is an environmental education centre with nature trails, wildlife observation points, a museum and a geological garden. The Cupone Botanical Garden has a 350-metre educational trail featuring 115 native plant species. Its labels are provided in Braille and with raised characters for people with visual impairments.

The I Giganti della Sila nature reserve is home to 58 Laricio pines that are more than one hundred years old and can grow up to 45 metres tall. The access road is unpaved, but presents a manageable obstacle. Audio-description devices are available for blind visitors. This makes it possible to experience the natural attractions according to different interests and needs.

Churches and cultural history

The Sanctuary of San Francesco da Paola in Spezzano della Sila is considered, chronologically, the third church built by San Francesco da Paola and, worldwide, the first church of the Franciscan Order of Charity. On the shores of Lago Cecita stands the small wooden chapel Chiesetta di San Lorenzo, in the heart of the Sila Plateau near the national park.

La Nave della Sila is housed in a former cattle shed restored by architect Sila Barracco in Parco Old Calabria. It presents Italian emigration from a national perspective rather than one limited to a single region. Parco Oldcalabria® was inspired by the accounts of numerous foreign and Italian travellers who explored southern Italy, and Calabria in particular, as part of the Grand Tour from the 18th century onwards.

Stages, railway and pilgrimage

The Trenino della Sila features a German-built 353 Borsig locomotive dating from 1926, as well as fully restored wooden carriages. The second stage of the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria in Parco Nazionale della Sila runs along the lake basin to the Centro Visita Cupone, the stage’s destination, passing through Spezzano della Sila among other places. In the days leading up to the feast of the martyr, the Chiesetta di San Lorenzo becomes the destination of a pilgrimage departing from Camigliatello Silano, during which numerous faithful celebrate the Eucharist.

The Trenino della Sila regularly provides passenger services on the route from Moccone to San Nicola Silvana Mansio, stopping at Camigliatello Silano, Ringhio, Sculca and Croce di Magara, among other places. For further orientation, you can also include Montalto Uffugo, Santa Maria Del Cedro, Marina Di Sibari, Papasidero, Corigliano Calabro, Aieta, Oriolo and Rossano Stazione in your plans.

For the broader travel overview: Cosenza.