周辺の天然記念物・トップ10

Lorica, in the heart of the Sila National Park, on Lake Arvo

Ginestra is a shrub that, thanks to symbiosis with bacteria, binds nitrogen from the air and fertilizes even the poorest, dry soils. In fertile soils, it spreads too much, creating dense fields that smother other plants – a bit like an uninvited guest who eats everything from the buffet. Inside, it contains sparteine, an alkaloid used to treat cardiac arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation and circulatory problems, and its stiff shoots have been used for centuries to make brooms. And even today, in some places, these shoots are used as traditional rods given to naughty children in December instead of presents.

A plant with intensely yellow flowers that grows wild in southern Italy. Here it is most often called ginestra. It occurs especially in mountainous and dry areas, and its presence in the landscape of Calabria in spring and early summer is very characteristic - it creates yellow spots on the slopes and along the roads. The intensely yellow flowers stand out against the green slopes, creating a strong and at the same time harmonious contrast. This combination works on the imagination and gives a strong impression of the freshness and exuberance of nature. In Calabria, especially in May and June, this contrast is perfectly visible: the green hills are covered with a yellow shower of flowers, creating almost painterly landscapes.

If you’re looking for Calabria off the beaten track, Lorica offers a completely different experience – mountainous, cool and relaxing.

Temperatures here are up to 10°C lower than on the coast, making Lorica a natural air conditioner. The region offers dozens of kilometres of trails, from family walks to technical single-track mountain biking. It lies within the Parco Nazionale della Sila, a UNESCO biosphere reserve with endemic plants and animals. There are a surprising number of modernist hotels and villas from the 1960s (a legacy of the ambitious plan to make Lorica Calabria’s Alpine resort) and a modern gondola that takes tourists up the Botte Donato ridge (for skiers in winter, for the views in summer). The lack of mass tourism means that even in August you can find peace and quiet.

Lorica is one of those places that effectively destroys the stereotype of Calabria as a region of beaches and lemons only. Situated at an altitude of around 1,300 m above sea level in the Sila massif, it offers a landscape more reminiscent of the Alps than southern Italy – with dense larch forests, a cooler climate and a peace that is hard to find by the sea.

It is a path that can be crossed in any season, the important thing is to have suitable clothing if you decide to travel in the winter months because it snows frequently in Sila. The landscape is magnificent.

Stretch of the Calabrian Parks cycle path that passes over the Arvo dam, between Lorica and Rovale. Here there are numerous paths among the laricio pine forests that can be easily covered by mountain bike.