Pollino National Park

 

Itineraries: The entire Park area is crossed by numerous trails, which allow easy and interesting walks and hikes. Particularly beautiful itineraries include those leading to the Pollino plains, to the Dolcedorme peaks, to the Grande Porta del Pollino, to the Serra del Crispo, to Serra delle Ciavole and to the Ruggio plain.

Interesting short walks are the ones to Belvedere di Malavento, to Pollino Madonna and to the Raganello Gorge.
The De Gasperi and Ruggio plain lodges are the starting point for a great number of hikes.

There are interesting karstic phenomena of erosion. Dolines, swallow-holes and plains are widespread in different locations such as: the Pollino plains, the Ruggio plain and Iannace plain, the 683 m. deep Abisso (abyss) del Bifurto (683 m deep) and the spectacular caves of Serra del Gufo.


The whole area is filled with springs, from which many streams and torrents flow, including some of particular importance such as the Frido, Peschiera, Duglia and Raganello. 

One of Pollino's traits is that it is isolated from surrounding areas. For this reason, many populations - particularly those of Albanian origin and of Orthodox religion, sought refuge and still live in this area. 
Their first settlements date back to the period from 1470 to 1540 after the invasion of Muslim Turks and the advance of the Ottoman Empire.

Wildlife: The Park's vegetation is diverse and rich in species. However, the most interesting characteristic is the presence, at high altitude, of the biggest Italian population of the Bosnian pine (Pinus leucodermis), a Balkan Peninsula conifer rarely found in Italy, evidence of the geographical connection of the two peninsulas in past geological eras. 
Furthermore, on the mountains is present the Apennine biggest forest of the Silver fir.

At high elevation there are many extended beech woodlands while at lower elevations Turkey and Downy oaks are dominant together with the Sweet chestnut tree; in more thermophiles areas Holm oaks are dominant.
It is obvious that Pollino's greatest heritage is its forests. 

Some of the typical plants of the Southern Apennines are the Ajuga tenorii and the Linaria purpurea.
On the Mount Orsomarso although few in numbers Wildboars and Roe deers still survive, the latter are likely the last specimens of the Italian native population. 

Other mammals are the Apennine wolf, strongly present throughout the region, the Porcupine, the Dormouse and the Forest dormouse, as well as the Otter in limpid rivers. 
There are various species of rare birds such as the Golden eagle, the Peregrine falcon and the Black woodpecker. 

The reptiles include the rare Hugy viper and amphibians are rich with protected species such as the Spectacled salamander and the Alpine newt.

History and Culture: The intricate system of ridged trails through the territory from east to west, and the rich archaeological, historical and anthropological heritage are elements that clearly demonstrate a very ancient human presence in Pollino National Park.
 
Trading, migrations, sheep herding and the presence of different peoples is an evidence of harmonious integration of the different cultures.

The oldest archaeological finds are found in Grotta Romito at Papasidero; in the cave, there is a profile of Bos primigenius an ancestor of the bovine drawn almost 12 thousand years ago. 

Pollino, however, is especially famous as a land of Greek and Roman colonization, Barbarian invasions, Byzantine influence, Norman conquests: the cultural influence of these peoples is still alive today in the habits of local communities and in art forms.
 
Christian Albanian communities, driven away from their original villages by the Turkish, settled in the Pollino region, kept their typical Oriental character with white houses and sacred Byzantine art.

They jealously keep their arabesque culture, speak their language and continue demonstrating how it is possible to make fabric from Broom while living in consolidated integration.

There are important centres of Byzantine religious structures at Cersosimo, San Paolo Albanese and especially at Lungro, Albanian spiritual centre with Greek cathedral San Nicola di Mira. Ridge settlements are widespread and typical of Pollino's landscape, like Chiaromonte and Morano Calabro that have kept their medieval characteristics.

In Morano Calabro there are extremely noteworthy artistic sacred buildings: the Church of Saint Bernardino, 1400, has a beautiful Gothic portal and a Venetian keel ceiling; the churches of San Nicola and San Pietro are also outstanding. 

The ruins of a Norman manor are sheltered on the hill. The Castle of Castrovillari portrays its Aragonese origins, designed and built with a square plan and angular, cylindrical towers in 1490.

Typical Products and Craftwork: In towns inside the Park, pottery, ceramic and fabrics are made. Agriculture and sheep farming are of high quality as human impact in the area is scarce.
Furthermore culture, tradition and craft of Albanian communities are still alive, specially in the areas of San Costantino Albanese, San Paolo Albanese (Basilicata) and in Farneta (Calabria).​