In Fallistro, in the municipality of Spezzano della Sila, the Giants of Sila Biogenetic Nature Reserve preserves what remains of the ancient Sila forest. The trees — Pinus nigra var. calabrica, emblem of Calabria — form a natural colonnade as awe-inspiring as a cathedral of wood.
The pines were planted in the first half of the 17th century by the Mollo barons, owners of the nearby hunting lodge. The reserve was established in 1987; since 2016 FAI manages public access and conservation on behalf of Sila National Park.
Among the towering trunks live southern black squirrels, red and black woodpeckers, foxes and birds of prey such as buzzards and kestrels. Walking here means entering an intact ecosystem within Sila's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
A loop of about one kilometre crosses the wood: each pine is catalogued and marked with an information panel. The route is easy, suitable for families and nature lovers, at around 1,400 metres — five kilometres from Camigliatello Silano.
Stay on the marked trail, do not collect branches or resin, do not disturb wildlife. These trees are living monuments: their future depends on how we visit them.