Aspromonte National Park at Gambarie

Beech forests and views of the Strait a stone's throw from the sea

At the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, the Aspromonte is a massive granite mountain that rises almost directly from the sea to nearly 2,000 metres, protected since 1989 by a national park and recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Its name probably comes from the Greek "aspros", white, for the colour of its rocks, although many interpret it as "rough mountain". Its slopes are covered with forests of beech, silver fir, Calabrian black pine and chestnut, crossed by deep valleys, streams, waterfalls and gorges, in a landscape that seems incredible just a few kilometres from the beaches and the cities of the coast. Its highest peak is Montalto, 1,955 metres, topped by a bronze statue of Christ the Redeemer.

The main tourist resort of the Aspromonte is Gambarie, a mountain village at about 1,300 metres, a short drive from Reggio Calabria, with a small ski area served by a chairlift, from which, in winter, you can ski with a view of the Strait of Messina and Etna, a unique experience. In summer, Gambarie is the starting point for hikes in the woods, horse rides and mountain biking, and for reaching places such as the Cascate Maesano, a series of spectacular waterfalls, and the Cippo Garibaldi, the place where in 1862 Giuseppe Garibaldi, marching on Rome, was wounded and arrested by the Italian army. The Aspromonte is also a land of shepherds and traditions, with sanctuaries such as that of the Madonna di Polsi, a pilgrimage destination in a remote valley.

Tip: in summer, go up from Reggio to escape the heat; take the chairlift at Gambarie for the view over the Strait and Etna.

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