Excursions to Calabrian waterfalls: four jumps not to be missed

The mountains of Calabria hold surprises you can't imagine and hidden corners where, amid the thickest and most intense greenery, numerous Calabrian waterfalls suddenly appear.

Let's discover some of the most evocative and majestic Calabrian waterfalls, set in breathtaking natural surroundings and perfect for a rejuvenating excursion.

Are you ready? Grab your rucksack and let's go!

Let's start with the highest waterfall in Calabria: we are in the heart of the Bivongi forest, the "Village of Longevity" in the province of Reggio Calabria, along the Stilaro river. Here, the waters of the Marmarico Waterfalls sing loudly. To reach them, you have to make a bit of an effort, as with any corner of paradise worth its salt, travelling along a stretch of dirt road in a suitable off-road vehicle (about 20 minutes), followed by an equally long walk along a path that skirts the Folea precipice (not really suitable for those who suffer from vertigo!). The spectacle that appears before us amply repays the sacrifice: included in 2011 among the sites of the "Italian Wonders", the Marmarico Waterfalls descend from a height of 114 metres and create a crystal-clear lagoon at their feet, ideal for an invigorating swim. The dialect word "marmarico" means slow or heavy and is only apparently in contrast with the rapid power of the falling water, because the optical effect of this monumental gush between the rocks is truly that of eternal immobility.

Also in the province of Reggio Calabria, in the municipality of Roghudi (whose abandoned part, Roghudi Vecchio, is one of the most fascinating "ghost towns" in the Aspromonte National Park), we find the majestic Maesano Waterfalls, or Amendolea Waterfalls, one of the most beautiful natural spectacles in Calabria. To reach these famous Calabrian waterfalls, follow a marked trail through a dense forest, which starts from the Menta Dam (the last place accessible by car) and continues on foot along the Amendolea Valley. Once you reach your destination, a triple jump awaits you: three simultaneous waterfalls, each forming a pool of icy water at a temperature of 12°/13°. From the Maesano Waterfalls, it is possible to reach other places of cultural and natural interest within the Aspromonte Park, including the panoramic peak of Montalto.

We move to the province of Catanzaro, in the lush municipal area of Sersale, in the centre of the “Valli Cupe” Regional Nature Reserve. Despite its name, which means “dark valleys”, this place has nothing gloomy about it except, perhaps, the dim light that characterises the narrow gorges of one of the largest canyons in Europe. Among these gorges are some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Calabria: a hundred spectacular waterfalls up to 100 metres high, immersed in subtropical vegetation and fed by rushing streams that descend to the Ionian Sea: the Hell Waterfall, one of the most evocative in the reserve, the Rupe Waterfall, surrounded by rare prehistoric ferns, and the Crocchio Waterfalls, to name but a few.

Among the most popular and easily accessible is the Campanaro Waterfall, which, with its 22-metre drop, offers an oasis of well-being for young and old alike. Surrounded by red algae and ancient ferns, it awaits us at the end of a path naturally carved into the rock. But that's not all! There are dozens of smaller waterfalls in the reserve, each one more beautiful than the last, leading to the heart of the Sila National Park: Allori, Salice, Tiglio, Chiusa, Chiusetta, Rovetto, Raga, Muschi and Cavallopoli; Ninfe, Tronco, Pietra, Anemone, Frassino, Faggio, Lamponi, Lupo, Aquila, Grotte and Paradiso.

The province of Cosenza is no exception and offers us the evocative spectacle of a place that, not surprisingly, is called “Path of Dreams”. Close to the historic centre of Sangineto, along the geological fault that runs through it, there is an ancient site that the local elders call “U Gùgliu”, named after a water source that creates a breathtaking waterfall inside a monumental cave, the Vuglio Waterfall. Easy to reach with basic equipment and suitable hiking shoes, simply follow the “Path of Dreams” along the river to the mouth of the cave.