Vergari Regional Nature Reserve
Natural reserve
Riserva Naturale Regionale del Vergari, Mesoraca - Regione Calabria
The Vergari Regional Nature Reserve is a true paradise for those who love living in contact with nature, with hiking trails, water basins and waterfalls, around a river park with a unique ecosystem. We are in Mesoraca, in the province of Crotone, precisely in the Sila National Park.
It is the ideal destination for a trip out of town, perfect for meeting the expectations of young and old: fun, relaxation, sport, history and culture. Starting from the traces of a distant past that attest to the importance that the Vergari valley has held over time. It is possible to admire the Shrine of Ecce Homo dating back to 1400, the Cistercian monastery of Sant'Angelo del Frigillo, the remains of “aquariums” and old terracing, ancient water mills, and numerous pastillariums where chestnuts were processed.
This reserve is one of the centres of manna production in Calabria, a sugary substance extracted from the bark of some trees that is used as a sweetener but also in pharmaceuticals. In the Vergari Reserve, nature is spectacular and it is here that the rare black stork nests, in an uncontaminated environment far from the invasive presence of man, where hawks, sparrow hawks, buzzards, eagle owls and grey herons also fly free. The river park is ideal for hikers and nature lovers. There are a series of loop trails with varying degrees of difficulty, you can choose which one to tackle according to your physical condition, but they all offer the opportunity to admire a breathtaking landscape, characterised by crystal-clear waterfalls and paths immersed in the lush greenery of the Reserve.
One moves accompanied by the sounds of nature, the gurgling of the river or the powerful voice of the Lazzara Waterfall, breathing in the purest air. On hot days, the cool water will offer refreshment and well-being, but also fun for the little ones. A stop at the natural pool of Curtiddruzzo for a refreshing bath is recommended, while in the path called Carrozzella it will be possible to swim and slide along a moss-covered rock.
