This majestic forest of monumental trees has survived intact since the seventeenth century in the shadow of its imposing "patriarchs", who give rise to a grandiose spectacle of nature... #tuttitaly
Hidden in the enchanting Croce di Magara, a hamlet of Spezzano della Sila in the province of Cosenza, stand the majestic Giants of Sila. This forest of monumental trees, untouched since the seventeenth century, is a masterpiece of nature, with its imposing "patriarchs" offering a timeless spectacle.
The Sila plateau is home to extraordinary trees, reaching heights of up to 45 meters with trunks 2 meters wide and an ancient age of 350 years. These trees bear witness to the ancient Sila forests that once covered the area. In the seventeenth century, the Barons Mollo, owners of the nearby Casino, planted over 60 specimens of larch pines and mountain maples, creating a centuries-old forest that was donated to the FAI in 2016.
The ancient Sila forests provided sustenance for shepherds who extracted flammable resin from the tree trunks, similar to pitch. This valuable resource caught the attention of the government of Naples in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, leading to measures to protect the trees from excessive deforestation. During World War II, the lands were expropriated and then returned to the former State Forestry Agency.
Thanks to the collaboration with the Mollo family, the Guided Biogenetic Nature Reserve was created and dedicated to the study, conservation, and protection of this invaluable historical-natural heritage.
Following human intervention, nature takes its course, allowing for the observation of the forest's evolution. The reserve provides a natural habitat for rare animal species, creating an atmosphere of wonder and admiration among the extraordinarily beautiful trees. The FAI ensures public access and is committed to restoring the ancient Casino Mollo, which will soon become the setting for an engaging narrative on the history of this piece of Calabrian rural landscape from the seventeenth century to the present day.
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