The Pollino National Park, Italy’s largest protected area, offers a journey through majestic mountains, the rare Loricato pine, UNESCO geosites, millennia-old beech forests, Arbëreshë villages and greenways – including the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria cycle route – providing authentic experiences in close contact with nature.
Spanning 192,565 hectares across Calabria and Basilicata, the Pollino National Park is Italy’s largest protected area and one of the most breathtaking places in the Mediterranean. A landscape sculpted by imposing mountains, deep gorges, ancient woodlands and panoramic views stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Tyrrhenian Sea, where nature tells an ancient story of biodiversity, geology and traditions.
The undisputed symbol of the Park is the loricato pine, a true living monument that grows naturally only in this stretch of the Calabrian-Lucanian Apennines. Clinging to the rocks and shaped by the wind, it embodies the strength and resilience of a unique region, dominated by the peaks of the Pollino Massif and Serra Dolcedorme, which, at 2,267 metres, is the highest peak in the southern Apennines.
The value of this natural heritage is recognised internationally. The Pollino is, in fact, a UNESCO Global Geopark, thanks to its 75 geosites – spectacular testimonies to the Earth’s evolution that make this area a prime destination for geotourism. Adding to the value of this treasure trove of biodiversity are the Ancient Beech Forests of Cozzo Ferriero and Pollinello, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the exceptional integrity of their forest ecosystems.
Alongside nature thrives a culture dating back millennia. In the characteristic arbëreshë villages, founded by Albanian communities who arrived between the 15th and 16th centuries, the language, traditions, customs and rituals still survive today, telling a story of identity and hospitality.
Pollino is a premier destination for lovers of active tourism and greenways – the green routes that allow visitors to explore the area at a leisurely, sustainable and immersive pace. Trails, paths and routes wind through woods, plateaus and ridges, offering unforgettable experiences on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. The Park is also crossed by the Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria, one of Europe’s most fascinating cycle routes and part of the network of major greenways in southern Italy, which takes travellers through authentic villages, past breathtaking views and to places steeped in history and tradition. Trekking, rafting, canyoning, climbing, horse riding and numerous other outdoor activities round off the range of experiences on offer in a region that, whatever the season, invites you to enjoy an authentic experience centred on adventure, wellbeing and discovery.
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.
