Trekking on Mount Reventino: recommended routes

Mount Reventino is a small natural paradise in the centre of the Catanzaro isthmus, just behind the city of Lamezia Terme.

Bordered by the Savuto and Corace river valleys, Reventino is home to wonderful hiking trails, along which you will encounter stories, legends and villages with unique charm.

Ready to set off on an excursion to Mount Reventino?

The trails that cross Mount Reventino start from the towns at its foot, between the Sant'Eufemia Plain and the Sila Piccola. Each of these offers unique emotions and stories, starting with the mysterious origins of the geological massif, which are still being studied: it seems that Mount Reventino is made up of a particular type of stone, the Green Stone of Reventino, which was used in the past as a building material. It was the American geologist Walter Álvarez who first noticed that the microscopic 'folds' in this rock are strictly oriented towards the west. The phenomenon, known as 'fold distortion', was first recognised here on Mount Reventino! According to Álvarez, the massif broke away from the Alps and was passively transported to its current position, which is why it cannot be considered part of the Apennines, just like Corsica and Sardinia.

The phenomenon of 'distortion' is not the only peculiarity of Mount Reventino, which is crossed by numerous watercourses that flow into the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Riviera dei Tramonti, creating valleys of incomparable beauty, such as those carved out by the Amato (the ancient Lametos) and the Savuto. Following the course of these rivers, our trek turns into an experience of historical discovery of the area, which offers traces of numerous water mills, evidence of typical crafts and manufacturing, such as the Amato Mill Trail.

Another gem of the Reventino? The "Good Giant", or the Millennial Plane Tree of Vrisi. A monumental oriental plane tree, recognised by UNESCO, which falls within the territory of Curinga, as does a second giant tree: the largest black poplar in Italy, from which the place name "Land of the Two Giants" derives.

Curinga is one of the historic centres of the Reventino area that is not to be missed, along with Decollatura, Soveria Mannelli, Platania and Conflenti. These are ancient settlements dating back to prehistoric times, whose histories are intertwined with those of medieval hamlets and the lands that belonged to the Cistercian Abbey of Corazzo (in Carlopoli), used for grazing and harvesting the prized wood of Reventino: the same wood used in Serrastretta to carve the traditional chairs that have earned it the title of 'City of Chairs'.

But it's not just traditional crafts! Mount Reventino is also a cutting-edge industrial centre, a strategic hub for development in the Catanzaro area in the publishing and yarn sectors. To learn more about these two virtuous realities, you need to go to Soveria Mannelli and visit the dedicated Corporate Museums: the 'CARTA' Museum, owned by the Rubbettino publishing house, which offers the opportunity to learn about the history of books in Calabria, and the Leo Wool Mill Museum, a historic family-run Calabrian textile business, focused on the processing of wool and yarns of excellence.

Publishing in the Reventino area stems from a deep literary vocation in the area, which can be appreciated by following the Path of Stories, discovering local characters and legends. Above all, the figures of the great poets from Reventino and Lametino stand out: Michele Pane, born in Decollatura (in the hamlet of Adami), Vittorio Butera, Franco Berardelli and Franco Costabile. Their verses conceal ancient local legends, which describe Mount Reventino as the 'Home of Fairies' and other supernatural beings, including the legend of the 'Hen that laid golden eggs'. Those who wish to discover the ancient musical traditions of the Reventino area should definitely visit Conflenti in July, during the Felici & Conflenti ethnic music festival.