La Sila has a lot to offer: read the post to organize a low cost holiday in contact with nature and in the name of excellent food.
La Sila offers a lot both from a landscape and a culinary point of view, with its cured meats and mushrooms for example.
An unusual destination, but excellent for a quiet holiday in contact with nature.
Let's start with Cosenza, the provincial capital, la leads to the Sila Park.
How to get to Cosenza
It can be reached by regional train from Paola or by bus. Obviously, if you want to explore the area well, I recommend going by car, because the more isolated mountain villages are less easy to reach by public transport.
What to see in the city
When I arrived in Cosenza I must say that the city did not particularly impress me, because the suburbs are very monotonous and full of buildings all the same.
However, when you approach the historic center everything changes: you get to the center along Viale Parco, obtained from the old railway tracks ... a pleasant walk.
The ancient part of the city seems almost fake, it is mainly built on Colle Pancrazio, in the valley of the Crati river, which flows into the Busento. The confluence point of the two rivers marks the boundary between the old town and the modern city.
The historic center is full of churches, convents, narrow and winding streets and the houses are mainly small houses.
Along Corso Telesio there is the cathedral from 1200 and on the main hill - Colle Pancrazio - there is a beautiful castle, which was the stronghold of Frederick II of Swabia.
It is the highest point in the city and the view is beautiful.
The Sila steam train
Do you want to spend a different day, perhaps involving your children too?
A few kilometers from Cosenza, in Sila National Park, snorts a nice steam train ready to welcome you in every season.
A steam locomotive from 1972, which pulls historic carriages, all truly perfect in every detail.
The tourist itinerary was born thanks to the Ferrovie della Calabria Association, which, in collaboration with the Ferrovie della Calabria, has managed to revive a large part of the railway that connected Cosenza to San Giovanni in Fiore.
The restored section starts from Moccone and passes through Camigliatello Silano, where passengers board.
Along the way it is nice to enjoy the slow journey and the mountain landscapes, especially in winter, when everything is often covered with snow. This is a Calabria that is not expected.
The path of the train: a dip in the past
Finally, we arrive at the station of San Nicola Silvana Mansio: the highest narrow gauge railway station in Europe (1404 meters).
At the station we stop for water supply and then we witness the maneuver for the change of direction of the locomotive ... all like the old days! The little station is really nice, it almost feels like you've gone back in time.
The tracks continue up to San Giovanni in Fiore, but the final section is unfortunately not yet accessible… but they are working on it!
Consult the website to be updated on the trips made and to buy tickets. Moreover, the Railways Association in Calabria, for special occasions, organizes days with the historic train: tastings of typical products and small bus trips to the nearby mountain villages.
