Madonna del Pollino – Terranova di Pollino

Sanctuaries are always located in lovely, scenic, silent and solitary places … and the sanctuary of Madonna del Pollino is certainly no exception, a place of silence, suitable for restoring the spirit and soul. From here, in the Pollino woods, the ancient forests, springs of fresh and clear water, unique mountains with giant layered cliffs and rocks, you can reach one of the many villages in the park: Terranovella di Noia, today’s Terranova di Pollino.

Terranova di Pollino. Anticima of Timpa delle Murgie among hawthorn and perastri plants

Area

Lucania

Difficulty

E – Also accessable with MBT, starting from the roundabout at Gola di Jannace

Distance

24,1 km

Travel time

3 hours

Start

The sanctuary of Madonna del Pollino

Finish

Terranova di Pollino

Difference in altitude

↑ 394m ↓ 918m

Accessible

May-December

Springs and fountainheads with waypoint

Acquatremola spring

River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)

No

Route

Starting from the sanctuary of Madonna del Pollino, walk North-West along a stretch of the Via della Processione, towards the bronze statue of the Madonna holding out baby Jesus towards the observer, made in 2009 by the Dutch sculptor Daphné Du Barry. A magical place, a unique representation of the Madonna who holds up the baby Jesus towards the valley below as a sign of blessing. Continue down the ridge and then turn right and regain the path that leads to the parking lot of Rotonda della Gola di Jannace. From here, go along the asphalted road to the Albanete junction, when you reach the Fontana dell’Impieso you continue to the right and go uphill towards Monte Pelato. Then, crossing a spectacular beech forest, head towards the Acquatremola plateau. You continue by taking the Park path no. 980B, which begins behind the fountain of the same name and which, in essence, is the old route of the aqueduct that supplies Terranova. Follow an easy downhill forest track, surrounded by tall beech trees, along the Serra del Prete ridge, until you reach the crossroads on the slopes of Timpa delle Murgie. Continue to the left, then immediately afterwards you go uphill to the right and, after a couple of hairpin bends in the woods, you come out into the open. Here there is new scenery: the Sinni valley appears in all its majesty, as if a curtain had been opened. The first panoramic point is located on the left a few metres from the dirt road. An ophiolithic summit that looks like a volcanic tooth, is what remains of the bottom of an ancient ocean that emerged due to tectonic movements. Further on you see the long-limbed profile of the Timpa di Pietrasasso: another rocky testimony of the ancient geological structures known as “pillow lavas”, a kind of lava which erupted in an underwater environment where the seabed had a certain slope that gave rise to elongated shapes like large pillows of lava. This area is therefore a real geological paradise for not only specialists. Continue along the dirt road and descend on the opposite side, along the clayey rubble of Timpa Angiolicchio, between cultivated fields, grazing areas and small farms. You will soon reach the provincial road where you turn left towards Terranova di Pollino.

Brief historical overview

The sanctuary of Madonna del Pollino is located in the hamlet of Mezzana in the town of San Severino Lucano in the province of Potenza, 1537 metres above the sea, on a rocky spur. The sanctuary is actually a small Romanesque church with three naves. Behind the church there is an annexed building used as a sacristy; next to which there is another building that serves as a dormitory for guests. On the right-hand side, one more building has some rooms for guests on the upper floor and on the ground floor a souvenir shop and a small museum that houses ex-voto souvenirs. According to legend, the history of the sanctuary began between 1725 and 1730 when the Madonna appeared to a shepherd who was taking his flock to pasture. A few days later, two women from the village went to the place where the vision had occurred to ask for mercy for a very sick family member and they found a statue of the Virgin in a small natural cave. Back in the village, they told everyone of the discovery. When they returned to their home, to their joy, they saw that their family member was perfectly healed. As a sign of thanks, the husband of one of the women had a chapel built on the site of the discovery. Even today, three times a year, celebrations are held in memory of this event. On the first Sunday of June, the devoted go up the mountain carrying the statue of the Madonna in a long procession of about twenty kilometres to the sanctuary where they arrive at sunset. Along the way the porters, who take turns carrying the statue, stop every now and then to have refreshments, dance and place the statue on small stands placed along route. The Madonna remains in the sanctuary until the second Sunday of September, when, with a procession in the opposite direction, they take the Virgin back to the Mother Church of San Severino Lucano. However, the most wonderful and intense moment takes place in the first weekend of July, when the Madonna is carried in procession towards two points at the extremities of the Sanctuary: to the north-east towards the Valley and then to the south towards the Pollino mountains. During this weekend the mountain surrounding the sacred building resounds with music to the rhythm of bagpipes, accordions and tambourines. The procession ends with a visit and prayers in the church, which is followed by large lunches. Then the encampment is dismantled, and a date is fixed for the following year. The amazing geographical position of the Sanctuary makes you want to look towards the high peaks of the Pollino and, in the distance, the extremities of Monte Sirino can also be seen.

Terranova di Pollino. Grazing Podolica breed cattle

Terranova di Pollino: this important residential centre, located at the head of the Sarmento river valley, is quite a young. It was founded by Federico Pignatelli, Marquis of Cerchiara di Calabria and Lord of Noia (now Noepoli) and was given the name Terranovella di Noia.The first records we have of this town dates back to 1595 and originate from a census ordered by the King of Naples which shows that the village had 25 hearths. The town is located at the base of Mount Calvario, at just over 900 metres above sea level and at the confluence of the Balsamano canal with the Sarmento river. The urban area is roughly in the shape of a belt that surrounds the mountain to the west and provides shelter from the cold air currents that come from the north. Several rows of houses run parallel to the end of the southern Apennine road no. 92, which stops in Virgallita square where the parish church “San Francesco di Paola” stands. Built in the late 1600s, the building has a portal in Bosnian pine, while inside it is possible to admire the beautiful altarpiece depicting the Madonna del Rosario, surrounded by fifteen panels with the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, and a valuable statue of St. Francis of Paola.Some other buildings of historical interest standout such as those of the Virgallita and Rusciani families who, over time, have given prestige to the community.

Terranova di Pollino. The residential centre, Mount Calvario and the houses arranged in a belt on the latter

Map and elevation profile

Further information

Guides of reference for the stage:
Pasquale Larocca – tel. +39 349 7561374; +39 340 7199850 – mail: info@pollinoadventure.com – web: www.pollinoadventure.com
Domenico Bruno – tel. +39 0973 93473; +39 349 4917189
Antonio Miraglia – tel. +39 0973 93407; +39 347 8690093
Mario Salerno – tel. +39 0973 95059; +39 347 6993880

Where to eat

[Terranova di Pollino]

Farmhouse – Giardino degli Dei – tel.+39 0973 93037 – mail: info@giardinodeglidei.it Agriturismo
Farmhouse – Masseria Cantore – tel. +39 0973 93119 – mail: agriturismomasseriacanotre@libero.it – web: www.masseriacantore.it
Hotel – picchio nero – tel. +39 0973 93170 – mail: picchionero@picchionero.com – web: www.hotelpicchionero.com
Hotel – Pino Loricato – tel. 345 6000964 – mail: info@hotelpinoloricato.com – web: www.hotelpinoloricato.com
Taver – Osteria del Baccalà – tel. +39 347 7117530
Restaurant – La bottega dei sapori antichi – tel. +39 391 1390294
Restaurant – La Grotta – tel. +39 0973 93165
Restaurant – Luna Rossa – tel 0973 93254 – mail: valicentifede@gmail.com – web: www.federicovalicenti.it

Last update: 2022-07-29