Guide to Pollino National Park: The Wild Giant Between Basilicata and Calabria.
Straddling the border between Basilicata and Calabria, the Pollino National Park is Italy’s largest protected area. It is a vast treasure trove of biodiversity where peaks exceeding 2,000 meters in elevation alternate with pristine plateaus, ancient forests, and spectacular canyons.
If you love hiking and unspoiled nature, this park offers unique scenery that spans two distinct geographical regions:
- The Lucanian side: crossed in its lower reaches by the Sinni River, it features a picturesque landscape characterized by historical deposits and valleys marked by badlands—spectacular erosion gullies carved into the terrain by rainwater.
- The Calabrian side and the Orsomarso Mountains: the southern part of the park is dominated by the Orsomarso Mountains, a world unto itself—rugged and wild. This side is carved by the Raganello Stream, famous for having carved out the imposing and spectacular Raganello Gorges over the millennia.
Flora: The Legend of the Loricato Pine and the Flowers of the Park
The undisputed symbol of the park is the Loricato pine, an extremely rare tree species in Italy that clings to the bare rock at the highest elevations, braving the winds and frost with its distinctive, plate-like bark that resembles the armor (lorica) of Roman warriors.
But the botanical richness of the Pollino doesn’t stop there:
- The forests: Between 800 and 1,000 meters, endless, elegant beech forests thrive, stretching luxuriantly up to the highest elevations.
- Spring Blooms: In spring, the pastures burst with color thanks to wild orchids, violets, gentians, and bluebells. The true floral gem is the magnificent peony.
- Summer scents: In summer, the landscape is enriched by the blooming of the rare red lily and countless species of medicinal and aromatic plants.
Fauna: The Last Refuge of the Native Roe Deer and the Kings of the Sky
The wildlife of the Pollino is among the most important and significant in the entire southern Apennines, providing a perfect environment for the conservation of protected species.
Mammals and the Mystery of the Sloth Bear
The park’s dense forests are home to a stable population of Apennine wolves, estimated at between 30 and 50 individuals. Among the wildest trails of Orsomarso lives a precious colony of Italian roe deer, a native species that escaped extinction, while the clearest and most pristine waterways are still home to the extremely rare otter.
The Lords of the Air
Looking up at the park’s rocky cliffs and gorges, birdwatchers can admire magnificent birds of prey soaring proudly through the reserve’s skies:
The intelligent raven, which nests on the most inaccessible peaks.
The majestic golden eagle and the lightning-fast peregrine falcon.
The lords of the night, such as the eagle owl and the tawny owl.
