Things to see · Parks and nature reserves
Gallipoli Cognato Forest and Palazzo Locality
Accettura (Matera)
Gallipoli Cognato Forest and Palazzo Locality is in Accettura, province of Matera. Opening hours: The forest is always open. The visitor centre at Palazzo opens at weekends in spring and daily in July and August (about 9:30–19:00 in summer). Admission: Free access. Camper area: €10 per day, on booking.
- Free access. Camper area: €10 per day, on booking.
- The forest is always open. The visitor centre at Palazzo opens at weekends in spring and daily in July and August (about 9:30–19:00 in summer).
About this place
The Gallipoli Cognato Forest is the green heart of the Gallipoli Cognato and Piccole Dolomiti Lucane Regional Park. It covers more than 4,000 hectares across the municipalities of Accettura, Oliveto Lucano and Calciano, rising from the banks of the Basento, at about 200 metres, to the 1,319 metres of Monte Impiso.
The forest
It was formed by joining two large wooded estates, the Gallipoli woods and the Cognato woods. The cerro (Turkey oak) dominates, reaching majestic sizes in the Palazzo area, together with hornbeams, maples, farnetto oaks (Hungarian oak) and, in the damper valleys, frassino ossifillo, a species typical of Basilicata. In spring the undergrowth fills with cyclamens, anemones, violets and wild orchids. The forest is home to wolves, badgers, porcupines, stone martens and hares, and among the birds there are woodpeckers, black kites, buzzards and tawny owls.
Palazzo Locality
This is the heart of the forest and the seat of the Park Authority. Here you will find the visitor centre, with information, maps and a small bookshop, picnic areas, an equipped camper area with 8 pitches, and the Lucania Outdoor Park, with treetop adventure trails.
What to do
• Walks and hikes along the Park’s network of trails, including the climb to Monte Impiso.
• Cycling routes, including along the Park’s cycle path.
• A visit to Monte Croccia, with the walls of an ancient town and the megalithic complex of Petre de la Mola.
• The Maggio di Accettura (the May festival): this is where the «Cima» comes from, the holly tree that is joined to the great cerro of the festival. To learn more, visit the Museum of Tree Cults.
How to get there
From Accettura, follow the provincial road towards Gallipoli and the Palazzo area; the drive takes about 20 minutes by car. The forest can also be reached from Oliveto Lucano and from the Basento valley.
Useful information
• The trails are not always well marked, so it is best to download the routes from the Park’s website beforehand.
• Outside the season the visitor centre and services may be closed; to book the camper area, call 347 0957967.
• Nearby are Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano: read our guide to the Lucanian Dolomites.
