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The municipal area is included in Pollino UNESCO Global Geopark

© All rights reserved. It is absolutely forbidden to modify or publish this file or its contents on the web. Exclusive property of the Calabria Vigorosa Tourist Consortium in free use and unlimited time to the Municipality of San Donato di Ninea. No sales. Product distributed free of charge and exclusively by the Municipality of San Donato di Ninea.

Company beneficiary of Funds Por Calabria 2007-2013 Pisl Local Tourist Systems / Local Tourist Destinations Pia.

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San Donatodi NineaA whole other world

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Calabria Vigorosa Guide

Editorial Director: Giuseppe De FrancoEditorial board: Chiara Falcone, Ettore De Franco, Lorenzo Principe, Mirko Di Maria.

Municipal administration of San Donato di Ninea

Mayor: Jim Di Giorno

Regional administration of Calabria

President: Mario Oliverio

Collaborators: Ernesto Cucci

A heartfelt thanks to Lorenzo Riccardi

The preparation of this guide was carried out with great care and great care and accuracy. However we do not assume any responsibility for time changes, telephone numbers, addresses or other occurrences, nor for damages or inconveniences suffered by anyone as a result of information contained in this guide.

© 2018 Calabria Vigorosa e GuideVia Cav. P. Longo 123 87028 Praia a Mare (CS) Italiawww.calabriavigorosa.it

This guide has been translated with the help of Google Translate

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The municipal area is included in Pollino UNESCO Global Geopark

Pollino UNESCO Global Geopark is located in Southern Italy. The area consists of several massif mountains, between the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian Sea that rise up to the higher elevations of the Southern Apennines: the Pollino Massif, the Orsomarso mountains and Mount Alpi. The Pollino massif consists of five summits all over 2000 m, of which the highest point is Serra Dolcedorme at 2267 m above sea level, it is the highest point of the Southern Apennines, and the only Italian massif from where it is possible to get a glimpse of three seas: the Ionian, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Adriatic.The area of the Pollino chain has always been of great geological interest in the Mediterranean and southern Italy regions. It represents one of the keys for understanding the structural relationship between the peloritano-Calabrian Arch and Southern Apennines because it connects the sedimentary soils of the Apennine limestone and the crystalline metamorphic and sedimentary geology of the Calabrian Arch. This touch point is identified as the "Fault Sangineto" located immediately south of the mountain chain of the Monti dell'Orsomarso. It marks the point of contact between the Apennines and the Peloritano Calabrian Arch. The geological and structural characteristics of the units that appear in the Apennines of Calabria and Lucania, constitute one of the ways that we are able to reconstruct the main stages of development of this orogen. In addition, the ophiolitic units provide information on the processes of accretion that developed between the Late Cretaceous-Eocene and Oligocene following the closing Tethys Ocean.The UNESCO Global Geopark covers 1,925 km2 and includes the administrative territories of 56 municipalities, 24 of which in Basilicata and 32 in Calabria. The resident population consists of 150,624 inhabitants.For several years the UNESCO Global Geopark has been developing a number of actions aimed at raising awareness of local communities with regard to the protection and enhancement of the geological and environmental aspects including the following:

• Collaboration with the Association Meteoweb for the installation of meteorological stations within the territory of the UNESCO Global Geopark (Pollino snowfield, Masistro sinkhole).

• Environmental education program and incentives for school trips, for the elderly and disabled people in the Pollino National Park with a visit to geosites in the UNESCO Global Geopark carried out by the official guides of the Park and local associations working in the field of geo-tourism.

• Project “Secure Gorges”: the Gorges of Raganello were equipped with specific signage which describes the general characteristics of the geological site and the main rules of conduct to be followed.

• Educational activities aimed at an adult audience, dedicated to geological topics.

• Participation in the national radio program Radio3 Science in Matera (European Capital of Culture 2019) at the event MATERADIO to tell the story of the ancient Pollino glacial plateau, monitoring of the existing snowfield and the application as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

(by Unesco website)

• Global Geopark Network Designated Year: 2015

• UNESCO Global Geopark Designated Year: 2015

• Localisation: N39°55'52'', E016°07'34''

• Area: 1,925 km2

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THE initial title could also be substituted with: "Benvenuti nel Borgo millenario", or "of tranquility", "of well-being", or "in the basin of metals" and also in the Borgo that "looks like a crib". These are some of the infinite peculiarities of the ancient village of San Donato di Ninea, a Montano municipality located in the southern part of the Pollino National Park. There are countless historical, cultural, archaeological, naturalistic and landscape features that make San Donato one of the pearls of Southern Italy. In this Digital Guide it will be possible to discover them with the hope that you will then be able to come and live them in person during all the months of the year, so as to be able to rediscover and savor the slow rhythm of the life of villages like this, linked to the alternation of the seasons and of the products and fruits deriving from them. A full immersion in the culinary authenticity and habits of the locals, who jealously guard the millenary folk traditions of this Calabrese Nativity. San Donato di Ninea is a place that must be visited above all to come to "touch" the ancient values, the ancient dowries and the ancient arts that the modern world has forgotten. For these and many other reasons, I and my Administrative Team give WELCOME in our country to all those who decide to honor us with their presence, with the hope of meeting in person in order to be able to pass on to all visitors, the feelings and emotions we feel when we talk about SAN DONATO DI NINEA.

Welcome to the Borgo delle Castagne

The MayorJim Di Giorno

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N - O - T - E - SBibliography: Enciclopedia dei Comuni della Calabria (Quotidiano della Calabria); Il sogno di Annibale di Claudio Vacanti; L’Epiro tra Bisanzio e l’Occidente di Lorenzo Riccardi; Le pitture murali della chiesa al Pantano di San Donato di Ninea (Calabria Letteraria Aprile-Maggio-Giugno 2011); San Donato di Ninea di Raffaele Bisignani (Calabria Letteraria 1979); San Donato di Ninea, un cantuccio da salvare di Pasquale Giannino (Calabria Sconosciuta, 2006). Texts of the itineraries by Ernesto Cucci. The texts of the description of the works of art of the church of San Martino al Pantano are taken from the book by Lorenzo Riccardi "The murals of the church at the Pantano di San Donato di Ninea”. Iconographic references: Photographic archive of Calabria Vigorosa; Wikipedia Commons archive; photographic archive of Ernesto Cucci by kind permission; photographic archive of Lorenzo Riccardi by kind permission. Videos:The clips were taken from videos provided by the municipal administration.

Calabria Vigorosa may have used photos available on the Internet, assuming, unless otherwise indicated, complete availability for publication. If we receive a complete and valid removal notification, we will remove the content as required by law.

SUMMARY

How to use the guide 08PRACTICAL INFORMATION Restaurants 09Accomodations 09Coverage cellular network 10Safety 10Transportations 10Useful numbers 11CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTPeoples and cultures 12The origins 14The churches 16WALKINGCamp of Hannibal 21Spectacular Cozzo Pellegrino 22The Muletta 23Cava dell’Oro 24Cozzo dell’Orso 25The Mula 26EVENTS The Sagre 27The Autumn Festival 28

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HOW TO CONSULT THE GUIDE The guide is designed to be consulted on the mobile phone or tablet. It is a Pdf file that always shows one page at a time. After receiving the file, we suggest downloading it to your mobile phone, opening it and activating the "Add to home screen" function. This way it can be opened even without an Internet connection. Just the charged battery.

The file is also provided in ePub format. It is also visible on the smartphone, but it is a format more suited to a larger screen (tablet or PC).

The printing of this brochure is forbidden under the law

Practical information and addresses

This section shows the places to spend a few hours in peace. Places to eat and where to sleep, useful phones, transport, cell phone coverage. All the city and everything you need for the visit. You will find also the name of professional guides in case you want to be accompanied by nice and competent people.

Culture and environment

In this section we host the description of the most important places of the village. There are also short essays that introduce to history, geography, art, traditions, the specifics of the city and the territory. In short, we provide an overview and an essential chronology in terms of art and local culture.

Walking

This section organizes the visit generally with walking itineraries. In the online version an interactive map will be provided with an indication of the locations and routes.

Conventional signs

🌏

Web pages

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Videos

📷

Photos

📩

Send email

📂

Open files

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Accomodations

& Baita Malieni - Via Cutura

🔒 - 📞 +39 0981-63585 o 327-7858736 - 🍝 Tradizionale - Pizza

& La Casa Cantoniera - Via Licastro Massanova-Ombrece

🔒 - 📞 +39 347-0700862 - 🍝 Tradizionale - Pizza

& Antica Fattoria dei Nonni - Vallo Marino

🔒 - 📞 +39 360 856440 - 🍝 Tradizionale - Pizza

& Da Gigino - contrada Ficara

🔒 - 📞 +39 348 054 4231

& Rifugio Piano di Lanzo -

🔒 - 📞 +39 0981 63011

𝌬 Il Nido dell’Aquila - Viale Padre Pio

📞 +39 329-1535035 oppure 327-6721617

𝌬 Ostello della Gioventù - Via Santissima Trinità

📞 +39 348 985 5452

𝌬 Rifugio Piano di Lanzo - contrada Piano di Lanzo

📞 +39 0981 63011

𝌬 Risveglio nel Borgo - via Vincenzo Monaco, 55

📞 +39 392 221 8397

𝌬 “U’ giruni” di Vuono Domenico - Via Borgonuovo

📞 +39 345 074 7565

𝌬 Casa nell'antico borgo - Salita Motta, 4

📞 +39 347 360 0039

Restaurants

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Notizie utili

Transportations

Lines buses. The village is connected with the bus service of Trasporti Nord Calabria (TNC). For Castrovillari there is a one-way and one return trip, for Altomonte two pairs of return trips, four round-trip pairs for Cosenza. In the summer period there is a couple of daily trips to the beach of Villapiana (Casello 114). For information on timetables and the execution of the races it is necessary to call +39 0981 63450

Cellular network coverage

From the data provided by the Ministry of Economic Development, the 30 Mbps ultra-wide band is planned for the municipal area by 2019.

Safety

There are many areas that are particularly at risk. For any doubt it is advisable to call an expert guide or notify the police or the Town Hall on +39 0981 63011.

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Useful numbers

* Town Hall - Contrada Cutura

📞 +39 0981 63011

📬 Post Office - Via Vincenzo Monaco, 27

📞 +39 0981 63452

, Emergency medical Service - Via Vincenzo Monaco

📞 +39 0981 63345

🏥 Hospital - Via Padre Pio, Castrovillari

📞 +39 0981 4851

💊 Monzo Pharmacy - Corso Domenico Martucci, 7

📞 +39 0981 63010

💁 AIGAE Environmental Hiking Guides

📞 +39 348 914 4384 - Ernesto Cucci

📞 +39 389 987 9743 - Angelo De Maio

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© Mario De Martino

At the foot of the PellegrinoDEAR Calabria, we are in the Pollino National Park on the southern border, in the municipality of San Donato di Ninea. It is up to you to decide if this is a sunset or a sunrise. Difficult to establish? Certainly we can establish that this landscape is Beauty. It is a heritage of the Calabrians and of our country. It is a world heritage. Every citizen of the Earth should have the privilege of seeing this sunrise (or this sunset?) of Cozzo Pellegrino which is on the highest peak (m. 1987 asl) of the Mula mountain system. San Donato di Ninea is a jewel set on the slopes of this mountainous system in a Nature that knows no boundaries to beauty. Already in the two photos (the one above and the one on the cover) the incredible function of the Light is evident. Beyond the poignant view of the landscape, the tone of Light is amazing. According to Leonardo da Vinci, the light spreads unevenly and gives different nuances to the Second Leonardo da Vinci, the light spreads uneven and gives different shades to our eyes. In short, it is as if the light decided to make a landscape more or less beautiful. It

POPOLI CULTURE

AMBIENTE

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For Leonardo da Vinci the light behaves like the wind in a wheat field, bends the ears without changing the position. He was the first to sense the wave nature of light which is probably due to the different intensity of the same color in the same object.

"chooses" the right shade for different landscapes. In short, the red is not always the same if we look at it on the Pollino or on the Sila or on the Alps. Leonardo in the Arundel code (f. 94 v) explains «The innumerable simulacra that from the innumerable waves of the sea repel rockets in them from the innumerable waves I am the cause of making the splendor of the sea continue and very wide ». That is, the waves reflect light differently each once they are formed. This is what seems to happen on Cozzo Pellegrino. Difficult to understand if it is sunrise or sunset. The light on Cozzo Pellegrino runs fast, chooses the shortest route, illuminates the same objects and returns a different color. Never the same. That of San Donato di Ninea is a lovely location. The inhabited area is enclosed in a valley at the foot of this mountainous system. The view stretches across the entire Esaro Valley and the Media Valle del Crati. Behind it the massif, in front, an esplanade that reaches Sibari, with all around the towns of San

Tyrrhenian side we find Spezzano Albanese, San Lorenzo del Vallo, Altomonte, San Marco Argentano, Mottafollone, Malvito and Santa Caterina Albanese.

Demetrio Corone, Santa Sofia of Epirus, Acri, Bisignano. More in this direction, towards the

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The origins

SAN Donato di Ninea does not escape the so-called Thousand year rule. It is that one, century below, century above, which certifies the existence of most of the Calabrian villages. It doesn't mean at all that they didn't exist before. But we will see this later. For now, we can say with certainty that in the year 1100 the duke Ruggero, son of the duke Roberto Aldobrandini, was the owner of a land where now stands the church of Santa Maria della Matina and other ecclesiastical buildings of which he granted the rights to the Church of Rome. In the medieval period San Donato di Ninea was certainly under the Angevin domination, while in the '500 it became, by feudal succession, part of the state of Bisignano, then governed by the Sanseverino princes.

Here, however, a major episode occurred. It was the year 1648 when the Sandonatesi rebelled against the Sanseverinos. The Bourbon reaction was violent. The village was attacked and nothing was spared. Many were beheaded on the spot and their heads brought to the Spanish Intendant in Cosenza. The people who remained alive were chained and dragged to the prisons of Cosenza where not all of them came alive. Neither churches nor priests were spared nor the bishop of San Marco Argentano, Giacinto Ceolo,

Rebellion and repression

🏛 Life, culture, society

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© Mario De Martino

excommunicated. The fact is that the village after all this pain and all this destruction was put up for auction. The new master became a Neapolitan merchant, Antonio Ametrano in 1667. Ametrano already owned Cirella and Grisolia and some time later he also bought the small village of Joggi.

Ecateo by Mileto

THE Greek historian and geographer Hecateus of Miletus, author of a map of the world known then surprisingly close to reality (see photo below) tells us about a city called “Ninea" founded by Enotri. Existing, therefore, before the arrival of the Greeks in Calabria. Ninea and all the area that extends to Lungro, was rich in salt mines, iron, copper, silver and lead. With the advent of Sibari, the area was subjugated by the

Sybarites who used it for the exploitation of minerals. It is also probable that the mountainous system of the Mula was used by sybarites for connections with Laos on the Tyrrhenian Sea. In reality, historians have always indicated the crossing of the Apennines in the Laino Borgo area. More recently, some scholars, due to the considerable roughness of that route, are more inclined to think that the Sybarites used the Palombaro passage to then continue on the Mula system and thus reach Laos and Cirella. Thesis supported by the presence of the mines that were in Sibari's service.

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The churches

Dell’Assunta or della Motta

IN hegemonic position with respect to the inhabited area it was built at the end of the 10th and beginning of the 11th century. It represents one of the very few examples of urban characterization that can be seen only in France and southern Italy, in the X-XI century, of Romanesque style, it suffered Norman-Swabian influence in the construction of the Bell Tower (XIII century). The façade is very beautiful (17th-18th centuries). Inside we find the wooden High Altar (17th century) on which rests an oil painting on canvas late-Renaissance work of the southern school (early 17th century). Of great historical and artistic value, the 1630 Confessional in wood and the processional statues of the same period depicting Saint Filomena, Saint Joseph with the Child, San Donato, the Madonna of the Assumption, the Madonna of the Sacred Heart. Santa Barbara, the Annunciation and Saint Lucia. In the village it is better known as "Chiesa della Motta". Access to the church is through an evocative arched portal with pilasters at the sides with two empty niches at the respective sides.

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San Donato al Pantano

THE interior of the church of San Donato Vescovo and Martire in the Pantano area contains real masterpieces of Byzantine art that leave the visitor stuccoed. The fresco at the top is called "Koimesis" and consists of twenty-one figures: in the center, on a pearly catafalque, is the Virgin, around which are arranged the apostles who wear tunics and cloaks of simple shape and tighten in right hand a scroll, except in the cases of the saint, who embraces the feet of the Madonna and of the one bent over her. A little higher up, surrounded by two angels in flight with veiled hands, appears Christ holding up and almost offering them the animation of the Virgin. The scene is also attended by two women with a halo in the upper left and two bishops, identifiable by the sacred vestments (phelonion and omophorion), which, with the book on the chest, are arranged on the sides of the angels and therefore of Christ, as if to reinforce the liturgical value of the story depicted. In the church there are at least 6 other frescoes, all with serious mutilation due to work carried out in the Middle Ages. All, in any case, very beautiful despite the serious disfigurements. The fresco of the enthroned Christ is splendid. The one of the holy monks with the hagiographic scenes is very suggestive. Also noteworthy is the fresco on the right wall depicting St. Leonard and that of St. Nicholas also on the right wall. The latter was painted by the anonymous artist with wonderful hangings. The technique used to paint the face is also extraordinary. Its intense expression is immediately noticed and is due to the pink color of the face painted with great dexterity.

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THE church was built in the second half of the 11th century. The dating is referable not only to architectural motifs, but also to the examination of the first layer interior paintings. It is located outside the town, in the Pantano district in the lower part of the village.

The building has a single pitched roof slightly set back from the older double pitched body. In the Middle Ages, a small nave and a room used as a sacristy were added to the original single-nave room.

The same hand probably also drew the fresco of the holy bishops. But there is a second great narrative story in a fresco almost entirely destroyed.

It is that of the Crucifixion. Almost nothing remains of Christ: we can make out the transversal arm of the Cross on which the hands are nailed and above which the Sun and the Moon must have been placed (on the left a celestial body can be glimpsed, perhaps the Moon). The scene is very crowded, but it is worth highlighting the one on the right of the Cross and of Saint John the Evangelist where there are five other male figures: the largest and next to the apostle is that of a haloed soldier. He wears a sort of white fabric overlay that falls down his back and wraps around his neck, a coat of mail and, above, a blue cloak, his right arm is outstretched and his hand is turned up: it is, as it is It is possible to deduce from the inscription on two lines of Longinus, that is of the centurion who, after the death of Christ, turns to the Cross and says: "This man was indeed the Son of God".

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Della Santissima Trinità

The ARCHIPRETURE of the Most Holy Trinity (better known as the Casale church) was built in the early 1600s instead of a previous religious building of which there is no definite information. It is located in the historic center in Via della Trinità, a few steps from the old Town Hall. Inside there is the Ducal Chapel of the Ametrano family with a gravestone dated 1716, a sumptuous carved and gilded Baroque wooden altar with an oil painting of the Madonna del Rosario

(17th century), a work of the Neapolitan school. In the church some statues in wood are preserved, really very interesting as that of the Madonna del Carmine (of unclear epoch), of San Pasquale which dates back to the end of the XVIII century and that of the Addolorata (XIX century). The sacred building also preserves a very beautiful oil painting that the experts date back to the second XVII and depicts the Madonna del Rosario with San Domenico and the Mysteries.

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Other ecclesiastical buildings

Grotte Sant’Angelo (Sanctuary of S. Michele Arcangelo) sec. VI VII:

Located on the slopes of Monte Cava dell'Oro, the Sanctuary is characterized by two wonderful caves carved out by water over the centuries. With erosion, natural works such as the "Madonna of the Snow" emerged, and unexplored tunnels.

Rock Church of S. Vito 

It is the second rupestrian church of San Donato that together with that of S. Michele Arcangelo constitute a singular and interesting artistic heritage of religious and speleological history. The Church is located in the belly of the rocky ridge around which is the historic center of San Donato di Ninea.

Santissimo Salvatore Church

It is located in Policastrello. It is a very ancient church, restored by Tommaso Vescovo di San Marco in 1346. It has a façade with an ogival stone portal, and contains precious wooden sculptures. Inside: Altarpiece of the Chapel of the Rosary, gable with lateral decorations and cymatium, with niche containing the wooden statue from the truth of the Madonna with Child, work of a provincial workshop of the century. XVIII. Wooden pergamum carved in walnut of 600 700. Carved wooden confessional of the century XVII. Stipo of the imposing Sacristy ml. 5 x 3. with decorated compartments and panels, on the monastic type, with cymatium dated 1706.

Santa Domenica Oratory

The oratory is in Policastrello. Restored a few years ago, it has incredibly preserved five frescoes (S. Antonio Abate, S. Bernardo, and three Madonne) of 1565-1568 of about one square meter each.

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© Mario De Martino

©

The Carthaginian general Hannibal in Canne, near Barletta, where he unexpectedly defeated the Roman army in 216 BC

IT is a vast plateau that extends into the saddle between the Mula of San Donato di Ninea and the Muletta of San Sosti, exactly at the mouth of the Varco del Palombaro. It was here that Hannibal would position his army after the victorious battle of Canne. The great Carthaginian general seems to have chosen

The Battle of Canne was a tactical

masterpiece of Hannibal. Although

outnumbered, he set his army to crescent. The Romans (it was their way of fighting)

tried to break through at the center and at the right moment the wings

of the crescent intervened tightening in

a vise the army of Rome that was forced

to capitulate.

that place because it considered it a strategic point to reach both Puglia and the sea towards Africa in the shortest possible time. Those who visit it will immediately realize that it was a happy and certainly not an occasional choice. The path to Campo di Annibale starts from the Refuge in Piano di Lanzo, along the Sentiero Italia in South West Direction. From the Rifugio al Campo there are about 8kilometres. The course can also be reached from Piano di Marco. Another access is the road that comes from San Sosti. It is a popular destination for hikers especially during the spring season where countless floral species bloom.

Camp of Hannibal

🚶 Walking

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Spectacular Cozzo Pellegrino

ITINERARY in the wild heart of the Orsomarso Mountains between landscapes and breathtaking views. You will walk between the Neapolitan alders of Piano di Lanzo and between immense beech woods that grow up to the altitude of 1750 meters on the Southwest side of Monte La Calvia, surrounded by the peaks of the Mula and Muletta, and by spectacular overhangs of over 1000 meters high. The path winds along the wide uphill dirt road for the first part. At the

Difficult path to do with an

experienced guide, with

trekking shoes and food and water in your backpack. It

takes about 6 hours

end of the dirt road you will find yourself in a large plateau of karstic origin where a small path begins with a steep uphill gradient. In fact, we pass from 1600 meters (Piano di Valle Scura) to 1910 meters (Monte La Calvia) in a small space. In this stretch you will have to pay the utmost attention. The effort will be rewarded by the exceptional views that will

appear along the climb. From Monte La Calvia to Cozzo Pellegrino you walk for less than an hour and with about 80 meters in altitude. Arrived at the top, after admiring the wonderful 360 ° panorama, you will continue continuing the circular route towards Valle Lupa from where you will take a wide dirt road that will reach the panoramic point of Piano Puledro and then to the Valle dei Marchesani. From here a narrow path will start, mainly in the plains and will lead you to the starting point.

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The Muletta

It is mandatory to wear trekking shoes and

comfortable clothing suitable for the season.

It is recommended in layers, bringing with

you a jacket or k-way, hat and spare clothing.

THIS itinerary will take you through wild woods, huge plains of karstic origin and remains of ancient glaciations. The path winds along the first part along a wide dirt road that becomes a small path after crossing the stream that descends from the Dark Valley in the shade of vast forests of Neapolitan alders. Before arriving near the source of Frida, the narrow path will coast along steep slopes. Continuing after the source, you will cross the wide forest road that climbs from Piano di Marco and reaches the top of Monte La Mula (1936 meters). From here you can begin to enjoy the panorama of the Esaro Valley, the Coastal Chain, the Sila and the Ionian Sea, while in front of you rises, majestic, the Muletta (1717 meters) destination of your excursion. After having gone through various hairpin bends uphill not too steep, you will come to the intersection that descends towards the Campo di Annibale, with La Montea in the background. Finally you will go up the slope that, from the Campo, climbs along the West side of the Muletta. The return route is the same as the outward one.

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Cava dell’Oro

THE route starts from the camper area in "Porticelle" (1112 meters) and winds along a wide forest road in a vast pine forest from which you go up to "Pianette della Tona" (1187 meters) and continues towards "Monte Cava dell'Oro ”(1058 meters). The path you take will allow you to relax by doing activities immersed in the uncontaminated nature of San Donato di Ninea. It is the classic excursion suitable for those who decide to spend a few hours together with friends in contact with the nature of these splendid places.

It is mandatory to wear comfortable shoes, preferably trekking shoes and clothing suitable for the season, practical that does not hinder movement. It is good to dress in layers, carrying with you a jacket or k-way, hat and spare clothing. Bring water from home.

Difficulty: T (Tourist, suitable for everyone) Total length 2.5 kilometers Total journey time: 2 hours

Starting altitude: 1112 meters

Maximum quota reached: 1187 meters

Mountainous Group: Orsomarso Mountains (Pollino National Park) Municipality: San Donato di Ninea

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Cozzo dell’Orso

LONG itinerary with little difference in height towards the natural terrace on the Abatemarco Valley and the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Cozzo Pellegrino Massif and the Pines Loricati that frame it. The route starts from the Refuge located in Piano di Lanzo, through a

It is mandatory to wear trekking shoes and

comfortable, seasonal clothing. It is advisable

to dress in layers, carrying a jacket or k-way, a hat and spare

clothing. Possibility of water supply at the

beginning of the route in Piano di Lanzo.

Difficulty: Hikers (medium difficulty) Difference in height: 217 meters uphill Total length 22 kilometers Total journey time: 8 hours

stretch starting on a wide forest road until you reach the statue of the Madonna del Pellegrino. From here continuing north-east along the Sentiero Italia you will cross some beautiful panoramic points on the Esaro Valley, on the upper Valle del Crati and on the Ionian Sea. The route continues through the broad plateaus of karstic origin until you arrive, close byof the top, where the wide road ends and a small climb begins a few meters towards the summit.

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The Mula

ITINERARY in the heart of the wild Orsomarso equal, for the first part, to the one for the Muletta and the Campo di Annibale. At the intersection that descends towards the Campo di Annibale, you continue to climb, after having crossed several hairpin bends that flank the southern slope of the Mula until you reach the top, where the morphology of the summit is that of a high-altitude plateau. Despite the immense plain it will be possible to admire not only the panorama but also the evident traces of glacial and karst morphologies, typical of the carbonatic massifs of which La Mula is part.

OBLIGATORY to wear trekking shoes and clothing suitable for the comfortable season, which facilitates movements. It is advisable to dress in layers, carrying with you a jacket or k-way, sunscreen hat and spare clothing.

Water supply at the start in Piano di Lanzo and during the journey in the locality of Frida (seasonal source therefore absent in some periods of the year).

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February: FrittulataLOCAL event during which, a spontaneous committee of citizens cooks the traditional "frittuli" that is pork rind cut into pieces, ribs, parts of the neck, cheek, tongue snout ears and other less noble parts that are cooked in the fat of the pig itself and that on this occasion are served with bread and good local wine.

August 5th : “Sagra del turdiddru”

ORGANIZED in the Licastro locality by the "La Mula" Association, the "Sagra del turdiddru" is an important occasion during which the "turdiddru" is a typical product of San Donato di Ninea which has the classic form of the number eight intertwined, prepared with eggs, flour, salt and vanilla yeast. This product, in the local tradition, is prepared for important occasions such as births and weddings.

August 17th: “I percorsi del Mais” 

ORGANIZED in the Fraction Policastrello by the "Nazareno Pellegrino" Association, "The Corn Paths" is a consolidated event during which you can taste many products derived from corn processing, enlivened by important musical events.

FOOD and wine and cultural event organized by the "Nazareno Pellegrino" Association which takes place in the Frazione Policastrello. On this occasion you can taste the products related to the cuisine of the Calabrian black pig, all enriched by important cultural moments.

December : Sagra del Maialino nero

The Sagre

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The Autumn Festival

ORGANIZED by the Municipal Administration in collaboration with local Associations, it is an international food and wine event, which takes place every year since 1991, within the first ten days of November. The Autumn Festival focuses on the most important fruit of San Donato di Ninea: the chestnut. Food and wine tours in the historic center where numerous stands are set up with typical products, crafts and lots of music with folk groups, street bands and important Calabrese artists. During the Festival you can taste the delicious roasted chestnuts from the numerous Sandonatesi chestnut woods. An event not to be missed.

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San Donato di Ninea

This guide was commissioned by the Municipality of San Donato di Ninea and built by Calabria Vigorosa, a company benefiting from a non-repayable grant from the Por Calabria 2007-2013. It is distributed free of charge in its electronic form (epub and pdf). We submit a questionnaire to help us improve it and for statistical purposes as well. The information will be treated anonymously in full compliance with the regulations in force on data protection and confidentiality (Legislative Decree, No. 196/2003).

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