Between Pollino, Sila, Serre and Aspromonte, the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria is the green route to discover the region's magnificent natural heritage.
The Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria is a still little-known itinerary that takes us to explore the natural wonders of this region's interior, to experience an unfamiliar and rarely visited side of it — namely its remarkable heritage of parks. The route covers 545 kilometres and winds along the Apennine ridge that cuts the region in two, starting from Laino al Borgo — a village in the north — all the way to the city of Reggio Calabria.
The green, authentic soul of these lands never fails to surprise cycle tourists as they cross four natural parks: the National Parks of Aspromonte, Sila and Pollino, and the Serre Regional Park.
Riders pedal through spectacular landscapes — with views over two seas, the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian — passing through ancient woodlands and villages of great historical and cultural value. Needless to say, alongside the beauty of the territory, every ride is accompanied by local food and wine specialities.
The Ciclovia dei Parchi covers a protected area of around 350,000 hectares, with a landscape heritage of biodiversity and native plant and animal species that is truly extraordinary. Starting from the north, we encounter the massifs of Pollino and Orsomarso, among the highest peaks in southern Italy. In these areas, clinging to the steep limestone screes, lives the Bosnian pine, the emblem of the Pollino National Park. And it is precisely a Bosnian pine named Italus that is the oldest tree in Europe, having lived here for no fewer than 1,230 years.
Further south we reach the Sila National Park, one of the most important biosphere reserves in the Unesco World Network of excellence sites. Historically known as the "great forest of Italy" — much of the timber for the shipyards and craft workshops of Magna Graecia came from here — this protected area is almost entirely covered by woodlands and ancient forests fed by an exceptionally rich water table. As you cycle through, you encounter reservoirs and stretches of open water.
Continuing southwards, you reach the Serre Regional Nature Reserve, likewise characterised by dense forests. Here too there are springs, waterways and spectacular waterfalls such as those of Marmarico and the fiumara Assi.
Finally, the route crosses the Aspromonte National Park, where you also find the striking monoliths of the Valle delle grandi pietre. This stretch of the cycle route dominates Calabria's two seas, looking south over the Strait and Sicily. The park boasts an unrivalled floral variety with over 1,500 species. Among the rarest is Woodwardia radicans, a giant fern dating back to the Tertiary period.
The route runs along low-traffic roads, cycle paths and trails laid out along the ridge of the Calabrian Apennines. The minimum elevation is 19 metres above sea level, reaching a maximum of 1,690 metres above sea level.
The itinerary can be ridden in either direction, starting from the north or the south. Maps, descriptions and GPX tracks are available on the dedicated website.
Thanks to a mild climate, every season is a good time to undertake a journey in this area (even in summer, given the abundance of springs, water will never be scarce).
Along the way you will find agriturismi, small family-run hotels and bed & breakfasts. For those travelling with a tent, there is the option of spending the night at fully equipped campsites and bivouac areas in the woods.
It is also worth noting that from Rome to Reggio Calabria it is possible to travel on Intercity trains with your own bike, without needing to dismantle it.
The Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria is a project supported by European funding and aims to enhance natural areas through the promotion of sustainable mobility. The work carried out at regional level over these years has been recognised with a number of awards, including the Oscar italiano del Cicloturismo in 2021 — the accolade that each year brings some of Italy's most interesting cycle tourism projects into the spotlight.