Let’s explore the Pollino National Park, the mountain massif that serves as the natural border between Calabria and Basilicata, rich in places to discover and explore.
The Pollino is made up of several mountain massifs: the Pollino Massif, the Orsomarso Mountains, and Mount Alpi. All together they make up the southern Apennine chain.
Italy’s largest national park
Covering more than 192,000 hectares between the regions of calabria and Basilicata, it is the largest national park in Italy in which the territories of 56 municipalities are included.
Lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, thousand-year-old trees, sinkholes…
In the Pollino you find a wide variety of habitats: forests, mountains, rivers, lakes and more. There is also a small perennial glacier, the so-called “Pollino snowfield,” one of the southernmost perennial glaciers in Europe. But the Pollino area has much to offer, and its landscapes and habitats are very diverse.
A great biodiversity
The Pollino National Park is also home to a wealth of wildlife within it, including wolves, lynx, wild boar, golden eagles, peregrine falcons and many other species.
The flora is also very large and varied. We find beeches, firs, holm oaks, and oaks. But the prince plant of the Pollino is undoubtedly the Loricate Pine.
The blooms are also numerous: among others are Thistles, Gentians, Orchids, Violets, Bluebells, Ranunculus, and Daffodils.
In the Pollino Park we also find Lavender. In fact, there is a very beautiful Lavender Park which we will discuss later.
What to do in the Pollino National Park
Within the Pollino National Park it is possible to go hiking, trekking, camping, rafting, cycling and so many other things. Within the park you will find so many accommodation facilities, agritourisms, museums, cycle paths and trails, beautiful villages–there really is something for every taste and need.
Pollen trekking
Pollino National Park is rich in trails, a paradise for trekkers and hikers. We will publish a detailed article on the trails there shortly.
Rafting in the Pollino National Park
One of the most popular activities on the Pollino is undoubtedly rafting. There are several associations and organizations that organize rafting of all levels in the Pollino National Park, especially on the Lao River. There are several rafting routes on the Lao River, also suitable for families and children.
The Pollino, from both the Calabrian and Lucanian sides, is rich in attractions for nature lovers. In the exploration section you can find several hikes made within the Pollino park area, as well as within the places and photographs section.
We invite you to browse the site to find all the fantastic hikes you can do in the vast Pollino area.