Little Sila, Big Sila, and the Massif of Pollino. The Nature Parks protect the area, preserving a balance of rare beauty, and amidst the rocky precipices and the broad highlands crossed by torrents, we will have the opportunity to observe a rich variety of flora and fauna.
Day 1
Up to the Top of the Gariglione (Small Sila)
Arrival at Lamezia Terme or Catanzaro, check-in at the hotel in the Castrovillari area and technical illustration of the program. We transfer to the locality of Buturo, from where the first excursion starts. The path leads to the Valle del Crocchio and continues, through a dense wood, toward sunny meadows, crossed by streams that flow into the Soleo torrent, forming drops and waterfalls. We reach the forestry station of the Gariglione and from there the mountaintop, through the forest of centuries-old beech trees. In the evening, return to a hotel in the Cosenza area, dinner and overnight stay.
2
The Wolf in the Big Sila
Breakfast and transfer to Camigliatello Silano, as far as the locality “la Fossiata”. The large dell is surrounded by woody hills, where it is easy to encounter roe deer, martens, and black squirrels; although it does not let itself be seen, in the protected area of the Sila the wolf has managed to find a comfortable habitat. From the equipped area we continue, going into the larch-pine forest, as far as the Cozzo del Principe peak, from where we enjoy a view of the Cecita Lake. Then, on toward the Bosco del Corvo (Crow’s Wood), as far as the locality of Cupone. In the evening, transfer to the hotel in the Castrovillari area.
3
The Pollino National Park 
Breakfast and transfer to Piano Ruggio, a broad karst tableland, where we will start an excursion into the National Park. From the Belvedere terrace the view sweeps over the plain of Castrovillari and the rocky ridges of the Serra del Prete, where there are several loricate pine trees, as far as the sea. It is possible to observe the flight of large birds of prey, of which there are 12 species in this area, including the royal eagle. From the peak of Serra del Prete we enjoy a
magnificent view over the Piani di Pollino and of the other mountaintops that are over 2,000 m high, providing an
overall view of the heart of the Park.
4
On the Pollino Peak
Breakfast and departure for Colle Impiso, from where we
will climb up to the peak of Monte Pollino (2248 m), the heart and symbol of the Park; the landscape opens out on the
other mountaintops of the imposing Massif and is dominated by the specimens of loricate pine (among which the “patriarch” is 930 years old). This rare plant species dates from the Ice Age and grows only in the Balkans and on the Massif of Pollino, at a height between 800 and 2,000 meters.
5
Return
Breakfast at the hotel, transfer of participants to the Castrovillari train station or the Lamezia Terme airport.
