In the heart of Sila National Park lies a woodland made up of just 58 trees. They are known as the “Patriarchs”, a name that reflects the respect and admiration they inspire.

They are mainly Calabrian pine trees, an emblematic species of the Sila, remarkable for their impressive size.

All of these trees were planted during the first half of the 17th century, on privately owned land. At the time, the owner had built his summer residence there, as well as a spinning mill nearby.

The woodland was once much larger than it is today. For many years, shepherds and local inhabitants worked there, in particular extracting pitch, a precious and highly flammable resin, from the trunks.

Then came the unification of Italy. A large part of the immense forest that once covered the mountains of the Sila was felled to provide high-quality timber to the newly established Kingdom of Italy.

A few decades later, at the end of the Second World War, the forest suffered another period of large-scale exploitation: American and British troops took away part of these forest resources as war reparations.

Of these two major periods of destruction, only 58 survivors remain today, forming what is now known as the Fallistro Reserve.

Fifty-eight majestic trees, several centuries old, still reaching towards the sky. Some stand more than 40 metres tall and have trunks up to 2 metres in diameter.

In 2016, the family who owned these trees decided to donate them to the FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano, the Italian National Trust. Since then, FAI has been responsible for their preservation, allowing nature to take its course. This makes it possible to observe how the woodland evolves naturally and to encourage an environment where local flora and wildlife can thrive.

If you find yourself in Calabria, a visit to these giants from another era is truly not to be missed.

Follow the path through the woodland and, most importantly, look up. Take the time to admire these extraordinary trees, silent witnesses to centuries of history.

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