On the southern slopes of the Sila, around the village of Sersale in the province of Catanzaro, streams have cut into soft conglomerate rock to form a landscape of gorges, waterfalls and rock towers. The area was almost unknown until local enthusiasts began to map and promote it; it is now the Valli Cupe Regional Nature Reserve.
The name means “dark valleys”, and the best-known sight explains it: a canyon so narrow and deep that the sun barely reaches the bottom, with walls dripping in ferns.
Top things to do at Valli Cupe
Walk into the Valli Cupe canyon
A path descends from near Sersale into the gorge, where you walk between sheer walls only a few metres apart. Allow a couple of hours for the round trip, with a steady climb back.
See the Campanaro waterfall
A short walk leads to a tall single drop into a green pool — the most accessible of the area’s many waterfalls. Others, such as the Inferno falls and the Crochio gorge, need more time and a guide.
Seek out the giants
The reserve also protects monumental trees, including centuries-old chestnuts, and curious standing monoliths of rock.
How to get to Valli Cupe
- By car: about an hour and a quarter from Crotone — south-west on the SS106 and then inland to Sersale.
- Public transport: not practical for a day visit.
Insider tips
- Go with the local guides based in Sersale: sites are scattered, signposting is limited and they arrange the short transfers between trailheads.
- Wear proper walking shoes; paths can be muddy and slippery.
- Spring and autumn are best — waterfalls are fullest and temperatures kind.
- Combine it with a swim on the coast of the Gulf of Squillace on the way back.
Best tours & tickets for Valli Cupe
These experiences pair well with a visit to Valli Cupe:
Quad tour from €86 per group Sila National Park: Guided Quad Excursion Through Nature
A guided quad ride through the forests and lake country of the Sila plateau, with the option of a Calabrian aperitif afterwards. The price is per quad for up to two people. Meet the guide in the park — you will need a car to get up from the coast.
- Forest tracks, lakes and off-road trails
- Choose a one- or two-hour ride
- Optional Calabrian aperitif
Boat tour from €40 Gulf of Squillace: 3-Hour Tour by Inflatable Boat
The nearest bookable boat trip to Crotone on GetYourGuide: three hours by inflatable along the coves of the Catanzaro coast, with swimming stops. The departure point is roughly an hour’s drive south-west of Crotone along the SS106.
- Coves and clear water of the Ionian coast
- Stops for swimming
- Small inflatable boat
