The Aspromonte National Park offers a journey through UNESCO geosites, ancient forests, biodiversity and panoramic views that bring together the sea and the mountains.
It is a region to explore along greenways, footpaths and the Calabria Parks Cycle Route, experiencing nature in an authentic and sustainable way.
In the far south of Calabria, where the Ionian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea seem to meet, the Aspromonte National Parkis home to one of the most stunning landscapes in the Mediterranean. Established in 1989, the park extends around the Aspromonte massif, whose name, of Greek origin, means ‘white mountain’. A multifaceted landscape that rises to 1,955 metres at Montalto, the massif’s highest peak, from which the view takes in Calabria, the Strait of Messina and Sicily all at once.
Aspromonte is recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark, an open-air geological laboratory where ancient rocks, deep valleys, river gorges, ravines and spectacular monoliths bear witness to the evolution of the Calabrian-Peloritan Arc and the Mediterranean. Among the most representative geological sites are Pietra Cappa, one of the largest monoliths in Europe; the evocative Valle delle Grandi Pietre; the spectacular Dolomiti di Canolo; the Fiumara Amendolea; and the natural terraces overlooking the Strait – places that make the Park an ideal destination for geotourism.
The extraordinary variety of habitats, fostered by the rapid transition from the sea to higher altitudes, has given rise to one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in southern Italy. Around 1,500 plant species have been recorded in the Park, accounting for over half of Calabria’s entire flora, including the giant bulbiferous fern, a Tertiary relict, Woodwardia radicans.
Among Aspromonte’s most precious treasures are the ancient forests, veritable treasure troves of biodiversity forming part of the network of great woodlands of the southern Apennines: beech woods, Calabrian pine forests, holm oak woods, silver fir and southern oak forests, which preserve almost intact ecosystems and where deadwood, monumental trees and the natural evolution of the vegetation create vital habitats for an extraordinary variety of animal and plant species.
Today, the Park is one of southern Italy’s most fascinating destinations for slow tourism. A network of greenways, footpaths and trails winds through woods, valleys, river valleys and small villages, offering routes immersed in the most authentic natural surroundings. Running along the western slope is the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria, part of the network of major greenways in southern Italy, whose final stages are dedicated to Aspromonte itself. Trekking, canyoning, mountain biking, climbing and nature trails round off an outdoor experience that combines adventure, sustainability and discovery in an exciting journey between sea and mountains, in the very heart of Calabria.
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 centre 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.
