Pollino National Park: a guide to the Basilicata side

Pollino National Park, established in 1993, is Italy’s largest national park: over 192,000 hectares across Basilicata and Calabria, with 56 towns, 24 of them in Basilicata. It is also a UNESCO Global Geopark. Its symbol is the Bosnian pine (pino loricato), the tree with «armour-plated» bark that grows on the highest ridges among rocks and wind. This guide covers the Basilicata side: the towns, the peaks, the places not to miss and the best-known trails.

The 24 Basilicata towns in the Park

Twenty-two are in the province of Potenza and two, San Giorgio Lucano and Valsinni, in the province of Matera. The Park authority is based in Rotonda. San Paolo Albanese and San Costantino Albanese are Arbëreshë communities, of Albanian origin, with their own language, rituals and costumes.

The peaks

• Serra Dolcedorme (2,267 m): the highest summit of the massif and of the southern Apennines, on the Calabrian side.
• Monte Pollino (2,248 m): it gives the park its name and sits on the regional border.
• Serra del Prete (2,181 m) and Serra delle Ciavole (2,127 m), with cliffs and Bosnian pine woods.
• Serra di Crispo (2,053 m): on its ridge lies the «Garden of the Gods», with centuries-old Bosnian pines shaped by the wind.
• Monte Alpi, between Latronico and Castelsaraceno: an isolated, rocky mountain overlooking the Sinni valley.

What to see

Rotonda and Viggianello: the gateways to Pollino

In Rotonda the Pollino Natural History and Palaeontology Museum holds the remains of an ancient elephant (Elephas antiquus italicus) found in the Mercure valley. The town is also home to two PDO products: the Poverello white bean and the red aubergine of Rotonda. Viggianello, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, has the Sanseverino castle and historic palaces; from here a road climbs to Piano Ruggio and Colle dell’Impiso, the trailhead for the most famous hikes.

San Severino Lucano: the sanctuary and Bosco Magnano

High up on a rocky spur stands the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Pollino: the statue stays there from June to mid-September and in July the most heartfelt festival takes place, three days and nights of music and pilgrimage. Lower down is Bosco Magnano, a forest along the Frido river with an adventure park. On Timpa della Guardia stands RB Ride, the panoramic carousel by artist Carsten Höller.

Castelsaraceno: the Tibetan bridge

The Castelsaraceno Tibetan bridge is 586 metres long and hangs about 80 metres above the Racanello stream: opened in 2021, it is among the longest single-span Tibetan bridges in the world. It symbolically links Pollino Park and the Appennino Lucano Park.

San Costantino Albanese: the Eagle’s Flight

On the Volo dell’Aquila (Eagle’s Flight) you glide on a steel cable for almost a kilometre, at up to about 80 km/h, above the valley. In May, at the Santa Maria della Stella sanctuary, the Arbëreshë Nusazit ritual is celebrated. Trails lead from the village to Timpa di Pietrasasso and the Catusa spring.

Terranova di Pollino and the Sarmento valley

Terranova di Pollino is the closest village to the peaks on the eastern side of the park. Nearby are rocks of submarine volcanic origin, among the most interesting sites of the Geopark. Along the Sarmento valley you also find Noepoli and Cersosimo, with the remains of ancient Basilian monasteries.

Latronico, the Sinni valley and the castles

Latronico has a spa, the prehistoric caves of Calda and Anish Kapoor’s Earth Cinema. Along the Sinni you will find Chiaromonte castle, Lake Monte Cotugno near Senise and, towards the Ionian Sea, Valsinni castle, linked to the poet Isabella Morra and her literary park.

Trails and trekking

The Park’s trails are marked with the red-and-white CAI waymarks. Times and elevation gains below are indicative: before setting off, check the weather and trail conditions and, for the summits, consider hiking with a Park guide.

Monte Pollino from Colle dell’Impiso

The classic on the Basilicata side. From Colle dell’Impiso you climb through the forest to Colle Gaudolino, cross the Piani di Pollino plateau and reach the summit at 2,248 metres. About 700 metres of ascent, a full day there and back on the same route; for fit hikers.

Serra di Crispo and the Garden of the Gods

The park’s most photographed trail. From Colle dell’Impiso you cross the forest to Piani di Toscano, then climb to the Twin Pines and the Great Gate of Pollino (1,954 m), among the Bosnian pines of the Garden of the Gods, up to the summit (2,053 m). The track returns as a loop through the valley to the north: a long, demanding day.

Serra del Prete by the north ridge

A short but very steep climb from Colle dell’Impiso to the summit of Serra del Prete (2,181 m), with views over the whole massif. For experienced hikers only and in dry conditions; return the same way.

Other walks

• Madonna del Pollino sanctuary and Bosco Magnano: easy walks, also suitable for families, in San Severino Lucano.
• Timpa di Pietrasasso and the Catusa spring: mid-mountain trails from San Costantino Albanese.
• The Basilicata Coast to Coast trail: the Tyrrhenian-to-Ionian path crosses many Pollino towns, from Latronico to Valsinni. See it, with GPX tracks of the stages, in our guide Basilicata coast to coast.

Nature

Besides the Bosnian pine, the Park has large beech forests and silver fir woods. Wolves, roe deer, wildcats and otters live here; the forests are home to Rosalia alpina, a rare, protected blue beetle. Viggianello also has a deer reserve.

When to go and tips

• High-altitude hikes: from late May to October. In autumn the beeches turn golden; in winter the peaks are snowy and snowshoeing is for experienced hikers or with a guide.
• Start early: in summer thunderstorms often arrive in the afternoon; bring water, hiking boots and a jacket even in August.
• Respect: leave no litter, don’t pick plants and don’t disturb wildlife; the oldest Bosnian pines are centuries old.
• Events: festivals, food fairs and the Madonna del Pollino feast are in the Ebas calendar; add the towns to your itinerary with “Plan your trip”.