Aspromonte ("bitter mountain"), on the southernmost tip of the toe of Italy's boot and at the very end of the Apennine mountain chain, protects a remote mountain range that is home to an impressive array of wildlife, including Bonelli's eagle, the peregrine falcon, and a small but thriving population of gray wolves. Hard to reach except by horseback and on foot, Aspromonte is Italy's least-visited national park.

Sila Grande, to the northeast of Cosenza, is no easier to traverse, but several good roads pass through it. The 5,600-foot-tall plateau harbors deep lakes and dense stands of trees, including the "giganti della Sila," tall Calabrian pines more than 500 years old. Both parks have year-round campgrounds but no services; other lodging and restaurants can be found in nearby villages and in the larger cities of Reggio di Calabria and Cosenza.