Things to see · Parks and nature reserves
Montepiano Forest
Accettura (Matera)
Montepiano Forest is in Accettura, province of Matera. Opening hours: Forest always accessible. Admission: Free access.
- Free access.
- Forest always accessible.
About this place
The Montepiano Forest (Bosco di Montepiano) is a large oak forest of around 800 hectares between Accettura, Cirigliano and Pietrapertosa, in the Gallipoli Cognato and Piccole Dolomiti Lucane Regional Park. It stretches between 750 and 1,158 metres above sea level and is protected as a Special Area of Conservation.
The forest
It is dominated by cerro (Turkey oak), together with rovere (sessile oak) and roverella (downy oak), with wild pears and apples, alders and maples. The undergrowth includes brambles, cornel, hawthorn and agrifogli (holly). In the highest and most intact areas you will also find limes and silver fir (abete bianco).
The forest of tree rites
Montepiano is the forest of the tree festivals. Here the great cerro for the Maggio di Accettura is felled and dragged into town by oxen, and the trunk of the Mascio of Pietrapertosa is cut on 13 June. To understand these rituals, visit the Museo dei Culti Arborei (Museum of Tree Cults) in Accettura.
What to do
• Walks among the centuries-old oaks and in the clearings.
• Picnics in the Acqua Furr area, at about 1,000 metres, where there is also a restaurant.
• Mountain biking and hiking along the forest tracks.
• Birdwatching towards the fiumara (dry riverbed), where you can spot birds of prey, storks and herons.
How to get there
The forest is crossed along provincial road 277 between Accettura and Cirigliano. From Accettura and Cirigliano you can reach it by car in a few minutes. Nearby is the Gallipoli Cognato forest, with the Lucania Outdoor Park.
Useful information
• In autumn the forest is rich in mushrooms, and picking is regulated by park rules.
• Please respect the forest: no fires outside the designated areas.
