Territory

The PreSila Catanzarese

Headquartered in Pentone and woven through 14 historic borghi from the granite heights of the Sila Piccola to the Ionian Sea, our territory is an unbroken landscape of ancient chestnut groves, deep river valleys, and quiet stone villages. Shaped by resilient craftsmanship and fertile tradition, this is a living ecosystem where mountain trails, artisan hands, and rural memory actively shape a sustainable Mediterranean future.

Territory

Our Territorial Pride

We are nestled between the high granite plateaus of the Sila Piccola and the Mediterranean breezes of the Ionian coast. This territory forms an interconnected tapestry of hilltop villages, ancient chestnut groves, and deep river valleys. Shaped by centuries of agricultural tradition, resilient craftsmanship, and quiet community life, this territory offers a rare convergence of untouched biodiversity and enduring Mediterranean heritage. Beyond the beaten path, it invites you into a landscape where time moves to the rhythm of mountain trails, artisanal handcrafts, and small-scale cultivation. Whether tracing historical pathways through forested peaks or connecting with the authentic daily life of its medieval borghi, the PreSila represents a living ecosystem where rural memory actively shapes sustainable modern renewal.

Crafts

Textile Traditions: We are writing this ancient art's next chapter

For centuries, the rhythmic clatter of wooden handlooms was the heartbeat of our PreSila villages. Here, Catanzaro’s noble silk legacy met the mountain grit of golden ginestra and hand-spun wool—our grandmothers wove resilience, dignity, and prayer into every thread with dignity that dressed kings and grounded generations. Today, these ancestral secrets sit one generation away from silence. We refuse to let that fire fade. Our laboratory doors are wide open to train a new generation—welcoming hands of every age and background to revive our craft, soul, and inland economy. We need patrons, believers, and stewards of beauty who understand that safeguarding this heritage is an act of defiance, love, and economic renewal. Walk beside us.

Culture

Heritage: Living History, Stone, and Mountain Craft

Cradled between the chestnut-forested heights of the Sila and the coastal breeze of the Ionian Sea, the historic borghi of the PreSila Catanzarese are living testaments to rural ingenuity. Here, ancient stone portals, narrow cobblestone alleys, and stepped piazzas frame centuries of unbroken artisanal memory. From the rhythmic clatter of traditional wooden handlooms weaving natural wild ginestra (broom fiber), raw wool, and fine silk, to the ancient crafts of chestnut wood carving, iron forging, and hillside apiculture, every corner reflects an intimate dialogue between people and mountain. This is a landscape where material culture and community identity remain vibrantly alive—preserved not in museums, but in daily hands, home workshops, and shared heritage.

Products

Honey & Territory: Our Honey Varieties

Castagno (Chestnut): Deep amber, bold, woody, with a characteristic bitter note. The undisputed king of our mountain slopes. Millefiori di Montagna (Mountain Wildflower): An aromatic reflection of native flora, shifting seasonally from light floral to rich herbal tones. Melata di Bosco (Honeydew): Dark, resinous, and low in sweetness; harvested from conifer and oak understories. Sulla & Robinia: Delicate, light spring nectars offering fine crystallization and subtle floral sweetness.

Nature

Rivers and Streams: Carved by Mountain Waters

From the high pine forests of the Sila Piccola to the Ionian shore, our valleys come alive through the Alli, Corace, and Crocchio river basins. Fed by historic mountain torrents like the Melito and Pesipe, these waterways shape our gorges, woodlands, and sweeping fiumare—carrying the enduring pulse of inland Calabria.

Nature

Our Forests: Where Heritage Takes Root

Nestled between sea breezes and mountain heights, our hillside forests are more than scenery- they are the breathing heart of our territory. From centuries-old chestnut groves that sustained generations of artisans to towering pini larici and beech canopies providing some of the cleanest air in Europe, these woodlands protect biodiversity, pure mountain waters, and an ancient bond between community and land.

Where we are

The Presila Catanzarese

The Presila is a mountainous plateau on the Ionian side of the province of Catanzaro, between the Corace and Alli rivers. Covered with forests of Calabrian pine, beech and fir, it is home to extraordinary biodiversity.

Pentone, where the cooperative is based, lies at around 600 metres above sea level, with a spectacular view of the Ionian coast and the Aspromonte in the background.

Altitude

Pentone lies at about 600 m above sea level, in the heart of the Presila.

Climate

Cool summers and snowy winters: a microclimate ideal for farming.

Biodiversity

Flora rich in nectar-bearing plants, natural pastures and unspoilt forests.

Location

30 km from Catanzaro, easily reached from the Ionian coast.

Want to explore the Presila?

We organise hikes and guided trails in the area. Get in touch to plan your visit.

Upcoming events Contact us