The National Park of the Pollino delimits the most impressive and spectacular mountain group of Calabria: uncontaminated nature, secular vegetation, and ancient cultural traditions are preserved intact around the majestic mountain tops, where the golden eagle makes its nest.
Day 1
Among the Arbëreshë: Customs and Traditions
Arrival and check-in at hotel near the National Park of the Pollino. After the meeting with the guide and illustration of the program, the tour begins with a trip to Civita to visit the Arberesh Ethnic Museum. The arbëreshë are an Italian-Albanian community, present and integrated into several areas of southern Italy since the 15th century. The museum
offers exhibits depicting their uses and customs and an interesting photographic collection.
2
Learning to Get Around in the Rocky Highlands of the Pollino
The “timpe” are rocky highlands typical of the Pollino mountain group, formed by ancient movements of the earth’s crust. The differences in level produced, as high as 200 meters, are extremely steep and thus create a spectacular landscape. We will spend the day in this natural environment rich with surprises; in fact, it might be possible to observe the flight of large birds of prey, of which 12 different species are present in the area, including the golden eagle. The guide will provide some general orientation notions, both theoretical and practical
3
A Rarity of the Plant World: Loricate Pines 
We will go to Morano Calabro to visit the “Il Nibbio” Nature Museum, which was created because of the need to study the great variety of local flora and fauna. From there, the tour will continue with an excursion into the heart of the National Park, Calabria’s “green lung”, where we will be able to admire the centuries-old loricate pines. These trees, which are thought to belong to a species that survived the last Ice Age, have bark with deep fissures that create a pattern of plates similar to those of Roman cuirasses (loricae), and are extremely long-lived and rare. In fact, they only grow in the Balkans and on the Massif of Pollino, up to an altitude of 2,000 meters.
4
The Ancient Trades
A day to be devoted to the discovery of local traditions. In this area ancient trades, entrusted to the expert hands of artisans, are handed down. Here work is an art performed with care, carried out using precise techniques, and transmitted from generation to generation. We will visit several artisans’ shops, where we can observe close up, and perhaps learn, several production techniques, such as the preparation of cheese, the weaving of wicker baskets, and woodworking.
