In the heart of Pollino, where roads intersect and the landscapes tell ancient stories of forests, work, and community, there is a place capable of transforming the region into a living experience. A place that is not merely architecture, nor simply a place of hospitality, but a true platform for human, cultural, and productive connections. This place is Catasta, in Campotenese, Calabria.
Born from a vision of the Pollino National Park, funded by the Ministry of the Environment, and designed by architect Mario Cucinella, Catasta is much more than a multifunctional structure: it is a tangible symbol of how a region can express itself in a contemporary way while remaining firmly rooted in its heritage. The inspiration stems directly from the landscape and the memory of the place: the large woodpiles that once represented the Pollino forestry industry have become the architectural language of an iconic space, capable of bringing to life the identity of an entire region.
But the true value of Catasta lies not in its form, but in the people who have transformed it into a permanent laboratory for regional development.
The project is brought to life by Giovanni, who—together with Manuela, Donato, and Sergio—took on the challenge of transforming this space into a social enterprise created to build something that goes beyond simply managing a place: to create a true Pollino destination. The idea is as simple as it is revolutionary: to connect experiences, people, producers, and landscapes to make Pollino a vibrant, accessible, and desirable destination. Hiking, cycling, food and wine, botany, culture, and outdoor activities: each activity becomes a piece of a collective narrative that highlights the region’s resources and creates opportunities for its residents.
Catasta thus becomes a narrative and operational hub, a space where Pollino tells its story and makes itself accessible. Here, a museum area that interprets the region coexists with a thematic bookstore, services for slow tourism, a retail space dedicated to small local producers, and a restaurant that puts Pollino at the center of the plate. And this is precisely one of the project’s most significant aspects: its ability to generate value for small producers, providing visibility and a market for businesses that are often marginalized yet embody great authenticity. Every product on the shelves tells a story about the region, and every experience offered reinforces Pollino’s identity. Visitors become part of an ecosystem that fosters economic growth and raises awareness.
In just a few years, Catasta has become a cultural driving force, capable of transforming local traditions into memorable experiences.
This has given rise to initiatives dedicated to the Pollino truffle—a UNESCO-recognized heritage—that bring together truffle hunters, a market, tastings, and storytelling, transforming a natural resource into an opportunity for connection and development. Or take the Pollino Bike Festival, created to promote cycling tourism along the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria—a nationally acclaimed route that’s increasingly popular with European travelers. Here, the bicycle becomes a tool for discovery, connection, and a new economy.
And then there’s the Botanical Festival, which brings a contemporary and surprising language to Pollino: that of mixology. Botanists, liqueur makers, and bartenders work together to create cocktails inspired by the region’s essences, in a creative dialogue that unites scientific knowledge, conviviality, and the celebration of native botanicals.
It is in this fusion of nature, culture, and vision that Catasta finds its most authentic strength.
Because the project isn’t limited to the Pollino region; it works to connect different worlds: the mountains with the sea, nature with archaeology, and inland areas with coastal tourism. This has given rise to routes connecting Pollino to the Sibaritide region—itineraries combining hiking, biking, and cultural heritage—while new collaborations with the Sibari Archaeological Park are expanding the scope toward an integrated vision of the destination.
The focus, however, is always on the future. Among the new projects taking shape is “Contemporaneo Sociale,” a community space in Catanzaro created by a local social cooperative: a specialty coffee shop, readings, gatherings, and inclusion, with the goal of offering job opportunities to socially vulnerable young people. This is where the Catasta team is offering its willingness to collaborate in support of the initiative. At the same time, the Catasta Team is building an ever-expanding network of experiential activities, including rafting, water trekking, snowshoeing, and activities accessible to people with disabilities.
It is a concrete vision, built on planning, infrastructure, networks, and courage, sustained by an enormous and often unseen daily effort.
Giovanni describes it with a touch of irony, saying, “We’ve gotten ourselves into a bit of a mess,” but those words carry all the weight and beauty of those who choose to stay and build. In areas often marked by depopulation and resignation, Catasta represents a possible solution: not the pretense of changing everything, but the willingness to do one’s part, in a practical way. And perhaps this is the most powerful lesson of all.
Catasta demonstrates that a region can become a destination when it stops telling its story in fragments and begins to build shared visions. That sustainability can be economic, social, and cultural all at once, and that bringing out the best in a place means creating relationships even before services.
In the Pollino region, amid forests, trails, and communities, Catasta has become a beacon for the future. A place where the region is not merely described but takes shape, and where every experience becomes a story capable of leaving a lasting impression.