I have not been blogging for a while and started feeling a bit guilty for having left my followers without news for such a long time. I guess I can be forgiven, considering that I travelled extensively across Europe over the last few weeks. After flying to London to see friends and family, and attending the wedding of two of our best friends in Apulia, we spent a few days re-exploring the Pollino National Park in Southern Italy. I used to know the area pretty well as I spent my childhood there.
All was as I remembered it from my last visit, two years ago, and still recalled from my childhood. Time has not passed in this remote land. If anything, helped by the copious rain of the last few months, everything appeared greener than usual.
Valle Mercure (Mercure Valley). Pollino National Park
Getting there is always a bit of a challenge, given the poor state of the road network, which has become worse after budget cuts and the numerous landslides that affected the area. Perhaps, it is this inaccessibility which has helped preserve the nature of the park intact.
Medieval town of Viggianello in the Pollino National Park
We went for a walk in Piano Riuggo and from there followed a trail leading to Belvedere di Malvento (1,550m), a lookout point, where you could see the town of Castrovillari, the medieval village of Morano Calabro, and rare Bosnian pines on the rocky, rugged slopes in front of you.
Beeches in Piano Riuggio (1550m). Pollino National Park
Morano Calabro from Belvedere Malvento. Pollino National Park
Bosnian pines on rugged slopes. Belvedere Malvento. Pollino National Park
Although not as old as the sequoias dotting California, (centuries old) Bosnian pines are very rare .You can find them only in the Pollino National Park and and in the Balkans regions in Europe.
Despite being the end of May, the weather did not help us and we had to forgo a long hike to Piani di Pollino to see Bosnian pines close. Snow still covered the top of Serra Dolcedorme, the highest peak in the Pollino Park and in the Southern Appennini in Italy and weather conditions were variable and not suitable for a hike to 1,774m.
Serra Dolcedorme (2,267m) from Piano Visitone. Pollino National Park
We had to content ourselves with a not very eco-frienldy drive through Campotenese, Piano Ruggio, and Piano Visitone.
Serra Dolcedome from Campotenese. Pollino National Park
Wild horses grazing in Piano Visitone (1,500m). Pollino National Park
Perhaps, images are better than words in portraying the wildness and still beauty of this hidden territory.
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