Cropani-Micone Nature Reserve

The Cropani-Micone Nature Reserve, located between the municipalities of Mongiana and Arena in the Serre Regional Park in the province of Vibo Valentia, is a paradise rich in trails through beech and chestnut woods. The naturalistic, cultural and religious itineraries pass through unmissable locations, such as Serra San Bruno and the woods surrounding the Shrine of Santa Maria del Bosco, to reach the characteristic Sambuco Lake, a reservoir created in the 1970s. On its shores, you can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by greenery, among tiny wooden buildings on stilts immersed in the water, which provide shelter for many species of resident and migratory birds.

Near the lake, there is also a refuge that is made available to scout groups and visitors in the summer. It is located a short distance from the stables that house the Murgesi horses used by the Carabinieri Forestali for mounted service. Following the Allaro stream, you can take the Frassati Trail: a circular route of about 20 km through nature, art and religion, along which, with a little luck, you may encounter the monks of the Charterhouse of Serra San Bruno on one of their days when they are allowed to leave their cloister.