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Area Attractions: Lorica Lorica, Considered The Pearl Of Sila, Is A Delightful Tourist Village In The Province Of Cosenza, 1,314 Meters High, At The Foot Of Mount Botte Donato. Situated In The Valley That Surrounds Lake Arvo, It Rises In The Heart Of The Highlands, In A Position From Which One Can Easily Reach The Towns Of San Giovanni In Fiore And Pedace, Of Which It Is An Outlying Ward, The Nearby Village Of Silvana Mansio And The Territory Of The Calabria National Park. Surrounded By Thick Woods, Lorica, With Its Well Known Tourist Structures Capable Of Satisfying Every Demand, Is A Favorite Summer And Winter Tourist Resort, A Haven For Lovers Of Skiing, Canoeing, Horse Riding, Fishing And Excursions. Panoramic And Charming Walks Along The Lake Or Inside The Nearby Woods Can Be Enjoyed. These Paths Have Been Located By The C.a.i. Italian Alpine Club And Are Of Varied Length And Difficulty And Some Of Them Even Lead To Mount Botte Donato 1,828 Meters And To Mount Perillo 1,670 Meters. In Summer There Are Many Events Such As Folklore Parades With Traditional Costumes And Fairs That Celebrate The Delicious Protagonists Of Silan Cuisine. Sila Sila Is A Vast Highland Which Extends Into The Heart Of Calabria, And Reaches 1100 1700 Meters. The Most Important Relief Is That Of Mount Botte Donato Whose Peak Reaches 1928 Meters. To The North It Borders The Sibari Plain And To The South That Of Lamezia. On The Ionian Side Sila Slopes Gently Towards The Sea, While On The Tyrrhenian Side It Precipitates Towards The River Crati Valley. Since The Romans, The Highland, Whose Name Comes From The Latin Silva, Has Been Known For Its Centuries Old Forests, For Green Pastures And For An Abundance Of Water. Sila Is Subdivided Into Three Areas Sila Grande, The Central And Vastest Area Of The Highland And The Greek Area Which Includes Many Albanian Villages Belong To The Province Of Cosenza While Sila Piccola Belongs To The Territory Of Catanzaro. Crossed By Several Rivers And Torrents And Enveloped By Immense Pine And Beech Forests Alternating With Hills And Rich Pastures, The Area Belonging To Cosenza Includes Lakes Arvo And Cecita, The Biggest On The Sila Highlands. In 1968 Sila Became Part Of The Calabria National Park, An Ecosystem Rich In Interesting Vegetation And Animals. Near The Park There Are Interesting Villages Such As Camigliatello Silano And Lorica Where Good Hotels Can Be Found. The Area Is Well Equipped For Winter Sports And In Other Periods Of The Year One Can Practise Several Activities Or Take Walks Along A Set Of Purpose Built Nature Trails. Calabria National Park The National Park Of Calabria, Established In 1968, With Its 16,000 Hectares Is One Of The Most Interesting Protected Areas Of The Peninsula. It Includes Areas Of Several Calabrian Provinces And Is Divided In Different Nuclei, The Largest Of Which Covers Part Of Sila Grande, On The Territory Of The Province Of Cosenza. The Flora Is Very Rich With Thick Corsican Pine Forests Mixed With Firs, Turkey Oaks And Maples, Whereas Along The Rivers Black Alders, Poplars And Weeping Willows Prevail. Beeches Are Found On The Higher Areas. Many Species Of Bushes And Rare Or Endemic Varieties Of Flowers Mix With The Green Of The Pastures And Of The Surrounding Forests, Enhancing The Beauty Of The Place. On The Park Territory The Typical Fauna Of The Apennines Can Be Seen. Scores Of Wolves, Wild Cats, Bucks And Deer Populate The Area. The Lakes And The Endless Numbers Of Rivers Attract Several Varieties Of Water Birds, Both Permanent And Wintering. Structures Of Various Kinds Have Been Placed Here To Favour Tourism. Visitors Are Suggested To Follow A Set Of Itineraries Some Of Which Have Information Cards Situated Near The Fauna Reserves. There Are Many Well Equipped Rest Sites. In Cupone One May Visit A Botanical And A Geological Garden And In Sbanditi There Is The Tree Museu
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