From Amendolea a Bova

Itinerary

This itinerary, which follows a track recently plotted by the Reggio Calabria Aspromonte Section of CAI [Italian Alpine Club], takes us through level and terraced fields, once tilled to produce durum wheat or covered with olive groves and vineyards growing autochthonous varieties of grapes. Now that the cultivation of wheat has been forsaken, the olive groves and vineyards have remained to produce excellent extra virgin olive oils and the famous IGT Palizzi wines. In particular, one of the localities we encounter, called Brigha, is famous locally for the quality of its products.

We set out from the “Il Bergamotto” rural hospitality farmstead and walk down for about 300 metres to the tarmacked road and, before reaching the bridge, we turn left at the Cozzi Torrente, which springs in the mountains near Bova and follow it down to the Amendolea River . We cross the stream and continue for a short stretch until we arrive at a dirt track. We walk along the dirt track for about 15 minutes until we meet a small pathway to the left which, after a short downhill stretch, turns uphill again bringing us to some rocks and a wooden gate. From this gate the pathway is easier to make out. Take it and, having passed through an iron gate, you arrive at a crossroads. The right-hand turning takes you past some centuries-old oaks to a trough. Having passed the trough, you leave this pathway for a well-outlined trail which, having taken you though a grove of trees (Cisto), brings you to terraced fields once tilled to produce durum wheat. Continue through the terraces towards a farm building which was probably originally a Monastery belonging to Byzantine monks. Then you walk uphill along a well-trodden trail to a dirt track used by farmers and shepherds. Continue along this path for about 15 minutes until you come to an iron gate and, having passed it, follow the track uphill until you meet an oil mill, which is still in use today. From the oil mill, continue on this country pathway as far as a junction with a tarmacked road. Turn left onto this road and, after about an hour, you will find yourself below the historic town centre of Bova. From here on there are several shortcuts which permit you to avoid all the bends in the tarmacked road. Then when you reach the town, continue through the characteristic streets of the Historic Centre until you reach Piazza Roma, the main square with the Town Hall.

Departure: from the hamlet of Amendolea and its rural hospitality farmstead “Il Bergamotto” (140 metres above sea level)

Towns and villages en route: Condofuri and Bova

Elevation difference: about 680 metres uphill

Walking time: 4 hours

Distance covered: about 8.5 kilometres

Availability of drinking water: at “Il Bergamotto” before departure.

Difficulty: E

Arrival: Bova – Piazza Roma (820 metres above sea level)

Towns, villages, hamlets visited

The hamlet of Amendolea

The town centre of Bova

Information regarding the itinerary

Itinerary care of Cooperativa Naturaliter

For further information please contact Andrea Laurenzano (tel. 347 3046799)