The Aspromonte
Walking in some of the last forest wilderness of Europe
The last wilderness in Italy…
Travelling down on the train from Rome, the thickly-forested peaks of the Aspromonte Mountains come as one of the huge surprises of Southern Italy. After the chocolate-box prettiness of Sorento, the gently rounded landscape of the Cilento and the Pollino, the vast citrus plantations around Lamezia and the cerulean blues of the Straits of Messina, the sheer scale of the mountains towering to the East as the train nears Villa San Giovanni are enough to make one’s jaw drop. Rising up to 6,000 feet and snow-covered in winter, their peaks are Alpine in scale. It is little wonder to learn that their precipitous slopes, remote mountain-tops and evergreen valleys were once the refuge of bandits. Exploring the Aspromonte Mountains is to experience the thrill of traversing some of the last un-chartered territory in Europe.
We spend five days walking to Greek-speaking villages, treading the balcony of the Gods, and stepping beneath canopies of beech trees.
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Tour Features
- Small friendly group.
- Accompanied by a leader throughout your journey
- Pentedattilo
- The Aspromonte mountains
- Gerace
- The Riace Bronzes
- 1 night in Reggio Calabria
- 2 nights in Gambarie
- 4 nights in Gerace
- All meals are included
- Transfers and pick-ups/drop-offs from/to Lamezia Terme, Reggio Calabria
- Some strenuous walking.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Arrival and onward to Reggio Calabria
We can accommodate airport arrivals at either Lamezia Terme (in the Calabria region and served by Ryanair flights from London Stansted) or in Catania (Sicily, served by BA and Easyjet from London). A further option is arrival by plane in Naples and travelling to Reggio Calabria by train.
There is time to visit the museum in Reggio Calabria to see the Riace Bronzes before our evening meal.
Overnight accommodation in Reggio Calabria.
Day 2
Pentedattilo and Bova
We begin the day with a walk from Amendolea to Bova in the very Southern tip of the peninsula. Bova is one of the last Greek speaking villages of Southern Italy and we can pay a visit to the museum of the Greek dialect.
In the afternoon we visit Pentedattilo – a once-abandoned and mystical village which has been painted by Escher and Edward Lear.
Overnight accommodation in Gambarie
Days 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7
The Brigand’s trail
For the next three days we follow the Brigand’s Trail. On the first of these days, we begin in Gambarie and trek to the top of Montalto for some truly spectacular views across to Mt. Etna in Sicily. Driving down to Gerace to sleep each evening, we return in the morning to the point where we left off. And in the two successive days, we walk through the forest to Zomaro.
On the final afternoon, there is time to explore the town of Gerace.
Overnight accommodation in Gerace.
Day 8
Departure
We can organise transfers either to Lamezia Terme, to Catania in Sicily, or to Reggio Calabria for those who prefer to take the train. Alternatively, if you would like to extend your stay in Calabria we can suggest some beautiful towns on the coast where you can relax and unwind after your walking.
