Top 20 Lakes around Sila National Park

Lake Cecita, in the splendid panorama of the Sila

Among the three large Calabrian lakes of the Sila, the Ampollino is certainly the least contaminated and consequently the most authentic to be appreciated by lovers of nature and landscapes.

In summer, you can take advantage of numerous cycling routes that lead through diverse landscapes - from mountain spruce forests to water areas of lakes. In winter, the area is home to the Camigliatello Silano ski resort, which attracts skiing and winter sports enthusiasts with its well-prepared facilities and picturesque location in the Sila massif. This is a place more for local skiing enthusiasts and beginners who want to combine active recreation with a vacation in the warm climate of Calabria. If you are looking for more serious skiing routes, you have to go further north in Italy or to the Alps. In Calabria, on the other hand, you will certainly appreciate nature, peace and a unique mountain climate.

The Ampollino Valley is surrounded by the mountains of the Sila massif, with clearly distinguishable peaks: Scorciavuoi (1627 m above sea level), Gariglione (1623 m above sea level), Zingomarro (1463 m above sea level) and Monte Nero (1747 m above sea level). There are extensive pine, beech and fir forests here, creating a Mediterranean mountain landscape characteristic of the region. The central element of the valley is the artificial reservoir Lago Ampollino, created by a dam (diga) on the Ampollino River. The shores of the lake are overgrown with reed beds and water lilies, and in the area you can see wild animals - deer, wild boars, waterfowl and birds of prey.

The Transumanza has been part of the daily lives of shepherds in Calabria for centuries – now a thing of the past, but one that can still be seen, felt and walked. The old trails that they used to take their sheep from the Ionian plains to the mountain pastures of the Sila have now been transformed into walking and cycling routes. In towns like Longobucco, San Giovanni in Fiore and Camigliatello Silano, annual Transumanza festivals are held: with grazing demonstrations, local food, music and crafts. It’s a chance to see the real Calabria – unfiltered and unhurried.

The Mucone Valley, surrounded by the forests of the Sila Grande, was for centuries a key part of the so-called transumanza, the seasonal migration of shepherds and their flocks between the warm valleys of Calabria and the cool mountain pastures. In summer, shepherds would travel to the mountains, where the Sila plateau had lower temperatures and higher humidity, providing fresh, lush grass, ideal for grazing. In winter, they would descend to the lower areas by the Ionian Sea, where the milder climate and warmer conditions allowed them to survive the cold winter months.

Geography is clear: the Mucone Valley lies in the Sila Grande massif, at an altitude of around 1,100 to 1,500 m above sea level. It is crossed by the Mucone River, which not only carved out the valley but also inspired man to dam its waters, creating today the impressive Lago di Cecita, the largest artificial reservoir in Calabria. It has a surface area of around 12 km² and its presence has changed the local microclimate, fauna and landscape. Some say for the better. Others say simply “differently”.

If you are driving or hiking in Calabria and it suddenly becomes quieter, colder, and the signal gets weaker - it is a sign that you are close to the Mucone Valley. You will not find here promenades with ice cream shops or selfie sticks. Instead: a river, forests, a lake, and sometimes wild animals.