From Bova to Roghudi Vecchio

Itinerary

The itinerary follows one of the oldest pathways linking Bova, Roghudi and the Aspromonte hinterland. The trail is an ancient mule track which, until the end of the 1970’s, was used normally by the inhabitants of the valley and of the Hamlet of Roghudi. A part of the mule track, still in very good condition, has been included among the sites of the Segni dell’Uomo nelle Terre Alte dell’Aspromonte [Signs of Man in the Uplands of Aspromonte] project drawn up by the Reggio Calabria Aspromonte Section of CAI [Italian Alpine Club]. The mule track crosses terraced fields and, along its route there are many abandoned farmhouses and buildings, bearing witness to an important rural past. Travelling along this mule track, most of the time you can see, from above, the imposing bed of Amendolea River before you actually cross it and follow its course for about an hour until you arrive at the foot of the hamlet of Roghudi.

Departing from Piazza Roma, Bova’s main square, along the tarmacked road in the direction of the Ristorante Grecanico run by the Cooperativa San Leo and the Sports field. This road leads to Campi di Bova and continues as far as the Mandùddhuro Locality on the Via Polemo, where it meets, left, another tarmacked road going downhill to a group of houses and then on to Amendolea. Near the first house turn right onto a well-signposted trail (signposting in red and white) because this pathway is part of the Bova – Delianuova route created by the GEA (Aspromonte Excursion Association.) Follow this trail, a comfortable mule track, making sure not to turn left at the next fork you meet, as this would take you to the hamlet of Gallicianò. Go straight on, and having passed by a number of streams and through a holm wood, you will reach the Lestizzi Locality (668 metres above sea level) where you will find, on the left, some centuries-old olive trees and a number of derelict buildings now used to house cows. Continue until you come to an abandoned sheepfold on your left. Take the left-hand path you find here and walk on, passing some large chestnut trees and a brook, until you arrive in the Spartusa Locality (671 metres above sea level), which you will recognise thanks to some derelict houses and a group of huge mulberry trees. Continue along the trail which slopes gently downwards and pass under the mulberries. Do not take the dirt track which leads up to Campi di Bova. Having passed more derelict houses and another stream, you will find yourself in the Chieromandri Valley. Having left this and while paying great attention as your traverse the next stretch which crosses an area prone to landslides, proceed towards the Tribona Locality. Here you can some houses clearly and use them as your reference having crossed another stream. Leave the houses behind you and cross the terraced fields of olive and cherry trees. Then turn right onto a trail which takes you to the Noi Locality (516 metres above sea level) with its terracing, large tilled fields and numerous farmhouses. From here take the dirt track and walk uphill for a some tens of metres, and then take the left-hand turning that takes you, in just a few of minutes, to an abandoned farmstead from where you can see the Amendolea River, flowing a few hundred metres farther downhill, and catch a glimpse of the hamlet of Roghudi Vecchio. You pass by this abandoned building and walk downhill until you arrive at an outcrop and yet another abandoned building. Turn right and continue downhill and, having passed a huge abandoned cistern where you can provide yourself with drinking water. Continue until you reach two old farmsteads, both quite visible from above, near the bed of the Amendolea River. Having left the farmhouses behind, take the left pathway down in the direction of the Amendolea River (341 metres above sea level) and, once you have reached the banks of the river walk uphill for about an hour over the fields to the foot of the hamlet of Roghudi Vecchio. From here walk up and into the hamlet, and then walk through the streets that take you to a little square and a small church.

The return journey to Bova will be by jeep and van. Along the tarmacked road, which from the hamlet of Roghudi Vecchio leads up to Campi di Bova, you will come across two wonderful natural rock formations, the Rocca del Drago [The Dragon’s Den] and the Caldaie del Latte [The Milk Cauldrons] .

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

Towns and villages en route: Bova, Condofuri, Roghudi

Elevation difference: 245 metres uphill; 500 metres downhill, roughly

Walking time: about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Distance covered: 11.90 kilometres

Availability of drinking water: before departure at Bova; a spring at Verceo reached after a short detour on the tarmacked road which links Bova and the Mandùddhuro Locality; a drinking fountain near the Lestizzi Valley; the hamlet of Roghudi Vecchio.

Difficulty: E

Arrival: Roghudi Vecchio (527 m)

Visits to the following towns /villages

Visit to the Historic Centre of Bova

Visit to the hamlet of Roghudi Vecchio

Information regarding the itinerary

Itinerary care of Cooperativa Naturaliter

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