The Lucanian Apennines Val d’Agri-Lagonegrese National Park offers a journey through mountains, woodlands, caves, biodiversity and archaeological sites.
A network of greenways, footpaths and cycle routes, invites you to discover this corner of Basilicata at a leisurely pace, in an authentic and sustainable way.
In the heart of Basilicata, amongst the mountains of the southern Apennines, the Lucanian Apennines, Val d’Agri and Lagonegrese National Park is home to a natural and cultural heritage of extraordinary richness. Covering 69,000 hectares, it forms a natural ecological link between the Pollino and Cilento National Parks, creating a vast corridor of biodiversity where mountains, valleys, lakes, woodlands and villages tell a story stretching back thousands of years.
The landscape changes constantly, ranging in altitude from 300 to over 2,000 metres, amongst the peaks of Monte Papa, Monte Sirino and Monte Arioso. Centuries-old beech forests, oak woodlands, high-altitude grasslands, fir forests and riverine habitats coexist with spectacular rocky formations such as the Murge di Sant’Oronzio – pinnacles shaped by time that dominate the Val d’Agri – and with a complex karst landscape comprising caves, sinkholes and natural cavities.
Water is one of the defining elements of the Park. The Agri River, which flows through the entire area, nourishes a mosaic of ecosystems rich in biodiversity, whilst the caves of Castel di Lepre and Sant’Angelo al Raparo—among the most important in the southern Apennines—harbour habitats of great natural value, including one of Europe’s most significant bat colonies.
This extraordinary environmental heritage is protected through numerous Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas within the European Natura 2000 network, which preserve habitats of exceptional value – reservoirs of biodiversity – helping to make the Park one of the most precious ecosystems in southern Italy.
Alongside nature lies a history stretching back thousands of years. From the ancient peoples of the Enotri and the Lucani to the Romanisation of the valley, this territory has been a crossroads of cultures and civilisations. The symbol of this heritage is the Grumentum Archaeological Park, one of the best-preserved Roman sites in Basilicata, which brings to life the image of an important city in ancient Lucania.
The Lucanian Apennines are now an ideal destination for those who love slow, sustainable tourism. A network of greenways, footpaths and trails winds through woods, pastures, valleys and villages, offering authentic experiences on foot, by bike or on horseback. Among the most representative routes are the Cammino dei Cinti, which follows ancient paths linking the Park’s main Marian places of worship, and the Ciclovia Meridiana, part of the network of major greenways in southern Italy, which crosses the protected area, connecting nature, culture and local communities along a route immersed in the landscapes of the Lucanian Apennines. Hiking, trekking, mountain biking, climbing, horse riding, snowshoeing in winter, caving and lakeside activities round off a range of outdoor pursuits capable of satisfying every enthusiast, transforming every trip into an authentic experience of discovery, wellbeing and connection with the local area.
Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni, the Lucanian Apennines, Val d’Agri Lagonegrese, Pollino and Aspromonte: these are the four National Parks that have chosen to collaborate in order to present themselves as a single, major ‘nature destination’, extending beyond national borders.
South Italy Greenways is a journey through the living beauty of protected areas that preserve vast natural and cultural landscapes, with shared roots that run deep into the history and very identity of the Mediterranean.
South Italy Greenways is at the heart of an extraordinary and unprecedented direct communication campaign: an epic cycling roadshow that crosses the whole of Europe, from North Cape to Reggio Calabria, following the EuroVelo 7 route.
From August to October 2026, Simona Pergola and Simona Ridolfi will be in the saddle, accompanied by reporter Francesco Vigliotti, to promote the green routes of the major parks in the South through public events and activities along the way.
