La Sila
Encyclopedia
The Sila is the name of the mountainous plateau
and historic region located in Calabria
, southern Italy. It occupies part of the provinces of Cosenza
, Crotone
and Catanzaro
, and is divided (from north to south) into the Sila Greca, Sila Grande and Sila Piccola ("Greek", "Greater" and "Lesser Sila", respectively) sub-ranges. The highest peaks are the Botte Donato (1,928 m), in the Sila Grande, and Monte Gariglione (1,764 m) in the Sila Piccola.
The Sila houses the eponymous National Park, the Parco Nazionale della Sila
, formerly called National Park of Calabria and created in 2002.
, an ancient tribe of shepherds and farmers. After the destruction of Sybaris
in 510 BC, Rome
began to extend its sphere of influence over Calabria, Sila included. Later it was occupied in turn by the Ostrogoths, the Byzantines
and, from the 11th century, the Italo-Normans. The latter favoured the creation of several monasteries, like the Matina
of San Marco Argentano
, the Sambucina
at Luzzi
and the Florense Abbey at San Giovanni in Fiore
, founded by Joachim of Fiore
.
In 1448-1535 immigrants from Albania
settled the area towards the Ionian Sea
, creating the so-called community of Sila Greca ("Greek Sila"). Today the communes in Sila in which the Albanian language is preserved are 30.
After the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy
(late 19th century), Sila became a base of brigandage
. New routes were opened to reduce the isolation of the mountain centres, which was dramatic especially in winter: these included the Paola-Cosenza
-Crotone
road, and mountain railways such as the Cosenza
-Camigliatello Silano-San Giovanni in Fiore
narrow gauge line (now no longer operating regularly, and only just for tourist special excursions), operated by the Ferrovie Calabro Lucane, and the Paola-Cosenza
rack railway
, operated by Ferrovie dello Stato
.
Today several centres, such as Camigliatello and Palumbo Sila, are becoming tourist resorts.
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
and historic region located in Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
, southern Italy. It occupies part of the provinces of Cosenza
Province of Cosenza
The Province of Cosenza is a province in the Calabria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Cosenza.It has an area of 6,650 km², and a total population of 733,797 . It is the biggest Calabrian Province...
, Crotone
Province of Crotone
The Province of Crotone is a province in the Calabria region of Italy. It was created in 1996 out of part of the Province of Catanzaro. The capital is the city of Crotone.It has an area of 1,717 km², and a total population of 172,970...
and Catanzaro
Province of Catanzaro
The Province of Catanzaro is a province of the Calabria region, in Italy. The city of Catanzaro is capital both of the province and of the region.- Demographics :The following is a list of the province of Catanzaro comunes with population over 5,000:...
, and is divided (from north to south) into the Sila Greca, Sila Grande and Sila Piccola ("Greek", "Greater" and "Lesser Sila", respectively) sub-ranges. The highest peaks are the Botte Donato (1,928 m), in the Sila Grande, and Monte Gariglione (1,764 m) in the Sila Piccola.
Sila National Park
Sila National Park was established in 1997 and covers about 74,000 ha of charming and wild areas in Calabria. Besides offering exciting landscapes stretching out towards Pollino, Aspromonte, Etna, the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Sea, it is also characterized by the presence of several rural and tourist...
, formerly called National Park of Calabria and created in 2002.
History
The first known settlers of the Sila plateau were the BruttiiBruttii
The Bruttii , were an ancient Italic people who inhabited the southern extremity of Italy, from the frontiers of Lucania to the Sicilian Straits and the promontory of Leucopetra, roughly corresponding to modern Calabria.-History:...
, an ancient tribe of shepherds and farmers. After the destruction of Sybaris
Sybaris
Sybaris was an ancient city in Magna Graecia on the western shore of the Gulf of Taranto. The wealth of the city during the 6th century BC was so great that the Sybarites became synonymous with pleasure and luxury...
in 510 BC, Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
began to extend its sphere of influence over Calabria, Sila included. Later it was occupied in turn by the Ostrogoths, the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
and, from the 11th century, the Italo-Normans. The latter favoured the creation of several monasteries, like the Matina
Matina
Matina is a municipality in the Brazilian state of Bahia....
of San Marco Argentano
San Marco Argentano
San Marco Argentano is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.Main sights include the Norman tower, several churches and an abbey....
, the Sambucina
Sambucina
Sambucina is a genus of fungi in the Helotiales order. The relationship of this taxon to other taxa within the order is unknown , and it has not yet been placed with certainty into any family. This is a monotypic genus, containing the single species Sambucina aculeata.-External links:*...
at Luzzi
Luzzi
Luzzi is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy....
and the Florense Abbey at San Giovanni in Fiore
San Giovanni in Fiore
San Giovanni in Fiore is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.The town originates from the Florense Abbey, built here by the Calabrian monk Joachim of Fiore in 1188.-Notes and references:...
, founded by Joachim of Fiore
Joachim of Fiore
Joachim of Fiore, also known as Joachim of Flora and in Italian Gioacchino da Fiore , was the founder of the monastic order of San Giovanni in Fiore . He was a mystic, a theologian and an esoterist...
.
In 1448-1535 immigrants from Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
settled the area towards the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
, creating the so-called community of Sila Greca ("Greek Sila"). Today the communes in Sila in which the Albanian language is preserved are 30.
After the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
(late 19th century), Sila became a base of brigandage
Brigandage
Brigandage refers to the life and practice of brigands: highway robbery and plunder, and a brigand is a person who usually lives in a gang and lives by pillage and robbery....
. New routes were opened to reduce the isolation of the mountain centres, which was dramatic especially in winter: these included the Paola-Cosenza
Cosenza
Cosenza is a city in southern Italy, located at the confluence of two historic rivers: the Busento and the Crathis. The municipal population is of around 70,000; the urban area, however, counts over 260,000 inhabitants...
-Crotone
Crotone
Crotone is a city and comune in Calabria, southern Italy, on the Ionian Sea. Founded circa 710 BC as the Achaean colony of Croton , it was known as Cotrone from the Middle Ages until 1928, when its name was changed to the current one. In 1994 it became the capital of the newly established...
road, and mountain railways such as the Cosenza
Cosenza
Cosenza is a city in southern Italy, located at the confluence of two historic rivers: the Busento and the Crathis. The municipal population is of around 70,000; the urban area, however, counts over 260,000 inhabitants...
-Camigliatello Silano-San Giovanni in Fiore
San Giovanni in Fiore
San Giovanni in Fiore is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.The town originates from the Florense Abbey, built here by the Calabrian monk Joachim of Fiore in 1188.-Notes and references:...
narrow gauge line (now no longer operating regularly, and only just for tourist special excursions), operated by the Ferrovie Calabro Lucane, and the Paola-Cosenza
Cosenza
Cosenza is a city in southern Italy, located at the confluence of two historic rivers: the Busento and the Crathis. The municipal population is of around 70,000; the urban area, however, counts over 260,000 inhabitants...
rack railway
Rack railway
A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
, operated by Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
.
Today several centres, such as Camigliatello and Palumbo Sila, are becoming tourist resorts.