There is a Japanese practice called Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, a unique experience to be discovered in Calabria.
There are only forty places in the world for forest bathing
In the Bosco Archiforo woodland in Serra San Bruno, one of the region’s most evocative and unspoiled spots, in the Serre Regional Park, as you make your way past streams and rocks, amongst monumental beech trees and majestic silver firs, your mind will calm down thanks to the tranquillity of this woodland. You’ll breathe in the scents and essential oils released by the trees, which have positive effects on the respiratory system and your hormonal balance. This is how to experience forest bathing, because the Bosco Archiforo wood in Serra San Bruno is one of the forty places in the world where you can practice Shinrin-Yoku.
The Sila is a mountainous plateau
Another interesting part of Calabria is the Sila mountainous plateau between the provinces of Cosenza, Catanzaro and Crotone. Its terrain reaches high altitudes, with Mount Botte Donato at 1,928m, being the plateau’s highest peak. The Sila is divided into three areas: Sila Greca, Sila Grande and Sila Piccola. With vast forests, mainly consisting of Laricio pine, beech and silver fir, the main lakes are Lake Cecita, which the largest in the Sila, Lake Arvo and Lake Ampollino. These habitats are home to numerous animal species, including the wolf, roe deer, red deer and wildcat.
Hiking in summer and skiing in winter
The Sila is one of Calabria’s most important and distinctive natural areas and a significant part of the area is protected by the Sila National Park, established in 2002. The area is visited both in summer, for hiking and outdoor activities, and in winter, thanks to the ski resorts of Camigliatello Silano and Lorica.
