Pollino and Sila: Calabria’s mountain heart
A village stacked on a hill, an Albanian-speaking community above a gorge, a purple Byzantine manuscript and the ancient pines of the Sila.
- Distance
- 163 km (101 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 15 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- Italy
- Updated
- September 10, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 163 km (101 mi) with 7 stops, from Morano Calabro to Santa Severina. About 2 h 15 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Italy
Route description
Morano Calabro, just off the A2 motorway, is a cone of houses rising to a ruined castle at the edge of the Pollino National Park, Italy’s largest. Take the minor roads east to Civita, an Arbëreshë village where Albanian is still spoken.
From Civita a path leads down to the Devil’s Bridge over the Raganello gorge. After a fatal flash flood in 2018, access to the gorge floor is regulated; the bridge and viewpoints are easy to reach.
Drop to the Ionian coast and climb to Rossano’s old town for the purple Codex in the Diocesan Museum. The road inland to the Sila plateau is long and winding, but it leads into a different landscape of pine forest, lakes and pastures.
Camigliatello Silano is the main village of the Sila, busy with mushroom hunters in autumn; the Giants of the Sila grove lies a few kilometres away. Finish on the SS107 towards Crotone with a detour to Santa Severina’s castle on its rock. Snow is common on the Sila in winter.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Morano Calabro
Italy - 219 km
Civita
Italy - 31 km
Devil’s Bridge on the Raganello
ViewsCivita, ItalyA footbridge high over the Raganello gorge below the Albanian-speaking village of Civita. The viewpoint is an easy walk; entering the gorge itself is regulated and best done with a guide.
- 448 km
Codex Purpureus, Rossano
HistoryCorigliano-Rossano, ItalyA 6th-century Gospel book written in silver and gold on purple parchment, shown in the Diocesan Museum of Rossano’s hilltop old town.
- 538 km
Camigliatello Silano
Italy - 68 km
Giants of the Sila
NatureSpezzano della Sila, ItalyA grove of Calabrian black pines and maples several centuries old, some over 40 m tall, looked after by the FAI. An easy loop path winds between the trunks.
- 749 km
Santa Severina
Italy
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Morano Calabro → Devil’s Bridge on the Raganello · 20 km · 0 h 16 minOn the way: Civita.Overnight nearby, for example: Pineta di Sibari (15 km); Cerchiara di Calabria (7 km).
- Day 2: Devil’s Bridge on the Raganello → Codex Purpureus, Rossano · 48 km · 0 h 40 minOvernight nearby, for example: Oriental Park (5 km); Onda Azzurra (17 km).
- Day 3: Codex Purpureus, Rossano → Giants of the Sila · 46 km · 0 h 38 minOn the way: Camigliatello Silano.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping Lorica (8 km); Camping Arvo (8 km).
- Day 4: Giants of the Sila → Santa Severina · 49 km · 0 h 41 minOvernight nearby, for example: Cogobay Beach (17 km); Area Camper Gabella (18 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, August and December. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Pollino and Sila: Calabria’s mountain heart?
4-day road trip of about 163 km (101 mi) with 7 stops, from Morano Calabro to Santa Severina. About 2 h 15 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Pollino and Sila: Calabria’s mountain heart?
We suggest 4 days: about 2 h 15 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Pollino and Sila: Calabria’s mountain heart start and end?
It starts in Morano Calabro and ends in Santa Severina.
Which countries does Pollino and Sila: Calabria’s mountain heart pass through?
Italy.
Where can you camp along Pollino and Sila: Calabria’s mountain heart?
OpenStreetMap lists 33 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Pollino Rafting, Pineta di Sibari and Oriental Park.
When is the best time for Pollino and Sila: Calabria’s mountain heart?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, August and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
