Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
forests and ablaze with flowers in spring. It's wonderful walking country and the park has
several colour-coded trails.
Extremes of weather and geography have resulted in some extraordinary villages, such
as
Pentidàttilo
and
Roghudi
, clinging limpetlike to the craggy, rearing rocks and now all but
deserted. It's worth the drive to explore these eagle-nest villages. Another mountain eyrie
with a photogenic ruined castle is
Bova
, perched at 900m above sea level. The drive up the
steep, dizzying road to Bova is not for the faint-hearted, but the views are stupendous.
Maps are scarce. Try the
national park office
( 0965 74 30 60;
www.parcoaspromonte.gov.it
;
Via Aur-
ora; 9am-1pm Mon-Fri, 3-5pm Tue & Thu)
in
Gambarie
, the Aspromonte's main town and the
easiest approach to the park. The roads are good and many activities are organised from
here - you can ski and it's also the place to hire a 4WD; ask around in the town.
It's also possible to approach from the south, but the roads aren't as good. The co-oper-
ative
Naturaliter
( 347 3046799;
www.naturaliterweb.it
)
, based in Condofuri, is an excellent source
of information, and can help arrange walking and donkey treks and place you in B&Bs
throughout the region.
Co-operativa San Leo
( 347 3046799)
based in Bova, also provides
guided tours and accommodation. In Reggio di Calabria, you can book treks and tours
with
Misafumera
( 0965 67 70 21;
www.misafumera.it
;
Via Nazionale 306d; week-long treks €260-480)
.
Stay on a bergamot farm at
Azienda Agrituristica Il Bergamotto
( 347 6012338; Via Amendolea; per
person €25)
where Ugo Sergi can also arrange excursions. Hiking trails pass nearby so it's a
good hiking base. The rooms are simple but it's in a lovely rural location, the views are
wonderful and the food is delicious.
To reach Gambarie, take ATAM city bus 127 from Reggio di Calabria (€1, 1½ hours,
up to six daily). Most of the roads inland from Reggio eventually hit the SS183 road that
runs north to the town.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Reggio di Calabria
POP 185,900
Reggio is the main launching point for ferries to Sicily, which sparkles temptingly across
the Strait of Messina. It is also home to the spectacular Bronzi di Riace and has a long,
impressive seafront promenade - packed during the
passeggiata
. Otherwise, the city's
grid system of dusty streets has the slightly dissolute feel shared by most ports.
