Bocchigliero – Campana

Hikers will be immersed in the world of the Greek Sila throughout the whole stage, starting from Bocchigliero – a village of ancient origins that some historians believe to be the original Bruzia Arento – and then Kalasarna, city founded by the Homeric hero Philoctetes (according to Strabo) or by the Oenotrians (according to Stefano di Bisanzio) and then extended by Philoctetes. A trail of breathtaking sceneries such as the ruins of a Basilian-Norman parish dating back to the XII century, the Incavallicata with the surprising “Giganti di Pietra” (Giants of rock) and centuries-old chestnuts and oak trees.

Incavallicata

Zona

Sila Greca

Difficulty

E – Also accessible via MTB

Distance

17,2 km

Travel time

5 – 7 hrs

Start

Bocchigliero

Finish

Obelisco di Campana

Difference in altitude

↑ 550m ↓ 820m

Accessible

All year round

Springs and fountainheads with waypoint

Yes

River/fiumare crossing (waypoint)

Torrente Laurenzana

Route

The trail starts in Piazza Arento, headquarters of the municipality of Bocchigliero, and reaches the area of “Loggia di Mare” through a series of small countryside paths. Then it is the turn of “Mannina”, “Piano della Corte” and “Maranisi” towards the Laurenzana stream (originally called “Arenzana” from Arento), through forests of chestnuts, beeches, oaks and old olive groves. The latter were once properly cultivated as attested by the various abandoned farmhouses by the names of “U casinu e Rusiellu”, “A turre e Cierru”, “U mulinu e Mpolla”. Crossing the Laurenzana stream in the area of “Sarma Longa” the trail goes back uphill on the slope opposite Bocchigliero (called Campana), along woodland tracks were it is possible to admire centuries-old chestnut and oak trees of considerable dimensions, on top of a maquis schrubland made of brooms, carduus, myrtles, strawberry trees, ferns and many other varieties of local flora. The last trait of the route crosses the quarter of “Ficuzza”in the area of Campana, where are cultivations of chestnuts and cherries. The trail finally reaches the site of the Incavallicata, where hikers can admire the “Giganti di Pietra”, rock formations in the shape of an elephant and a warrior.

Brief historical overview

Bocchigliero is a village of ancient origins that some historians believe to be the original Bruzia Arento. Bocchigliero has many churches and religious sites and is characterised by narrow alleys and very low housing with “half-built doors”. Among the main religious sites are the ruins of a Basilian-Norman parish from the XII century, discovered on the high grounds of Basilicò quarter (so called for the presence of Basilian monks) in the “Cozzo della Chiesa” area. During the first years of the XIV century, an icon of the Madonna sculpted on the rock was removed from the ruins and now rests on the altar the Chiesa della Riforma consecrated to the Madonna de Jesu. It is also highly recommended to pay a visit to some of the following point of interest: the waterfalls of Santa Croce; the natural reserve of Macchia della Giumenta San Salvatore (which extends over a surface of almost 323 hectare of land with vast areas covered in Pinus nigra laricio, alder, poplars and beech trees); the Basilicò Forest (500 hectares featuring extremely particular botanical varieties and trees of exceptional dimensions) and the Museo della Civiltà Contadina, where all the ancient farmers tools, now long forgotten, are on display.
The typical dish is the Bocchigliero è Maccarruni suraca e funuakki, or fresh pasta cooked with a distinctive local bean and wild fennel. Also popular the sardella preserved with red grounded pepper, also known as the “red gold” of Bocchigliero. Other specialities are the a nnuglia (also called “beggar”, a particular sausage made with pig’s leftovers), the sanguinaccio, the grisimuglie (pork rinds made from pig skin). Typical desserts include the chinulille (Christmas cake with raisins, nuts and honey) and the mustazzuoli (biscuits cooked with honey and flour).

Campana da Bocchigliero

According to studies, the village of Kalasarna has been identified with the ancient city founded by the Homeric hero Philoctetes (according to Strabo) or by the Oenotrians (according to Stefano di Bisanzio) and then extended by Philoctetes. The name change could be attributed to a great bell that was used to warn the people of the village working in the fields of an imminent Saracen raid. The name probably changed during the first phase of the Norman domination, following the release of Calabria from the Byzantine Empire. Byzantines in fact do not make use of bells, a practice later introduced in Calabria by the Normans. It is recommended to pay a visit to the site of the Incavallicata, where hikers can admire the “Giganti di Pietra”, rock formations in the shape of an elephant and a warrior.
Typical dishes include: young goat and oregano, a kind od wild onions (lampascioni), courgette flowers frittelle, the gallu a la calavrisa (Calabrian style capon) and the nzudda (local biscuits).

Giganti di Pietra all’Incavallicata

Map and elevation profile

Further information

Guides of reference for the stage: Flaviano Lavia +39 339 5290644 – +39 0983 522331 and Domenico Flotta +39 380 7948403

[Campana]

​Comune Campana – tel. +39 0983 93191 – web: www.comune.campana.cs.it

Last update: 2021-12-29