Ferdinandea-Marmaric
We move from the green of the mountains to the rugged and impervious vistas of the ridges separating the Folea and Stilaro valleys and discover the impressive spectacle offered by the highest waterfalls in the southern Apennines.
Route info
MUNICIPALITIES AFFECTED: Stilo (RC), Bivongi (RC)
DEPARTURE: Ferdinandea, Stilo (RC)
ARRIVAL: Marmarico Falls, Bivongi (RC)
ROUTE TIME: about 5 hours
DISTANCE: 9 km A/R
DEVELOPMENT: 441 m
MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 1,060 m above sea level.
MINIMUM ALTITUDE: 627 m above sea level.
DIFFICULTY: medium-high
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Description
Linear route, challenging due to the exposure of the trail and the variable gradient gradient however always downhill to be tackled on terrain that is mostly uneven. The itinerary starts from the square in front of the Ferdinandea estate in the municipality of Stilo (RC) reachable through the former SS 110. We are located on the Ionian side of Calabria and the Serre Calabre in an area that has always been rich in minerals and with morphological and water conditions that favored the birth and progress of the first industrialization of southern Italy. The starting point of our itinerary originates from here, from this enchanting place surrounded by greenery, a former Bourbon steelworks.
Leaving the car in the square, in front of the residence, take the small road, briefly paved, that descends bypassing the ruins of the complex. At the first fork take a right. Proceed moving away from the Ferdinandea villa that we will leave behind us. Keeping to the left at the first two crossroads and then turn right, a short sandy stretch surrounded by tall gorse will begin. We descend along the winding path that skirts a former penstock, crossing it. The path becomes a mule track that regains the ridgeline and takes us to a splendid viewpoint over the falls. The mule track continues to descend and after a series of narrow switchbacks we reach the valley floor. Having crossed the stream we have to climb its course for a short distance passing by a huge erratic granite boulder finally reaching the base of the falls. The entire route is affected by the presence of CAI signs that will guide us along the trail.
CALCAREOUS SOIL WITH THE PRESENCE OF SILICATES
As we leave the forests behind us, the road will begin to change, becoming sandy, shiny in places. This is due to the presence of very fine particles: silicates. These are the most common minerals of the earth’s crust composed of silicon and oxygen whether they then present an abundance of aluminum and silicon or iron and magnesium what matters is their crystalline nature that makes them shine and, above all, be clear evidence of the richness of this territory and evidence of its past.
from the flowers we get the last honey of the season, prized for its particular flavor: bitterish and fragrant. From the Greek name of the arbutus (KÓpapog – pron. kòmaros) derive many dialect names for the plant including the Calabrian “cacummaru.”
CISTUS
An evocative, rugged, strong landscape of steep, almost vertical slopes plunging into narrow gorges will be what we will see for part of our walk. In this barren but not desolate landscape we will find small evergreen shrubs that from April to early summer are covered with flowers, simple and delicate, similar to those of the wild rose. We are talking about the cistus, a name under which about 20 species are grouped, and whose flowers, white or in the most varied shades of pink, appear numerous among the rocks, and are born and die within a single day.
CORBEZZOLO
The arbutus, also called an albatross, is a shrub or small tree that can reach between 1 and 8 meters in height. The fruits ripen in the year following the flowering that gives rise to them, in autumn. The plant is thus found to host both flowers and ripe fruits at the same time, which makes it particularly ornamental because of the presence on the tree of three vibrant colors: the red of the fruits, the white of the flowers and the green of the leaves. Arbutus wood is an excellent fuel that is mainly used for roasts due to its aromatic characteristics while.
WALL LIZARD
This little animal, like many saurians, likes to bask in the sun to promote the thermoregulation process, and the bush we will pass through, rich in Mediterranean scrub and ravines where it can find shelter, is its ideal habitat. It is a small, flattened species. The color of the back is very variable, between gray and brown, with vertebral stripe or reticulation and/or dark punctuation while the belly is usually whitish or yellowish with dark spots. The wall lizard is mainly insectivorous although it does not disdain small invertebrates and arachnids. A special feature of this species? in case of danger it is capable of tail autotomy, that is, it has the ability, by means of a muscle contraction, to spontaneously amputate this appendage.
MARMARIC FALLS
Since September 6, 2011, the Marmarico Falls, in the municipality of Bivongi (RC), have been listed among the “Italian Wonders.” At 114 meters, it is the highest waterfall in Calabria and the southern Apennines. Tucked among craggy peaks in the upper reaches of the Stilaro River, it is one of the most evocative places nature has to offer.
One of the many marvelous sights of our region. A heavenly vision that rewards the effort of many hours of walking.