Via Pino Loricato, 32, Castrovillari

The Pollino massif rises immediately to the north-east, with Monte Pollino and the Serra Dolcedorme area within the surrounding mountain landscape. Castrovillari sits on the edge of the Pollino National Park, which covers much of the area east and north of town. The Coscile river valley runs by the town and joins the Crati plain to the west. The nearest ski area is on Monte Sirino, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by road, so it is not part of the immediate landscape. The nearest larger town is Cosenza, which provides the main city-level services, hospitals and rail connections for the province. The area is known for the gateway position between the Calabrian interior and the Pollino mountains, and for the Albanian-origin Arbëreshë settlements in the wider zone.