Things to do in

Santo Stefano In Aspromonte

On this private guided walking tour, you’ll get to experience Bova, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Witness the beauty preserved in the capital of Greek Calabria as you walk through Bova’s characteristic streets, spotting sights such as the Norman Castle and the Sanctuary of St. Leo. You’ll meet your guide in Bova’s square, Piazza Roma, to embark on a walk in which history, culture, and the language of tradition come together. First, stop to admire the façade of the Palazzo Nesci-Sant'Agata, which is considered one of the most important historical buildings of the area. Continuing through the streets and stairways typical of the ancient medieval village, find yourself contemplating the beauty of the various religious buildings that the city of Bova boasts, including the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Sanctuary of St. Leo, the patron saint of the city. Among other sites of interest that you’ll visit, the Cathedral of Isodia is one that stands out. Located in the upper part of the city near the Norman Castle, you’ll get to admire the ancient ruins alongside an enchanting view of the village.

You will start your private trekking, towards one of the most sought-after destinations by trekking lovers, meeting your guide on the Montalto-Polsi road about 12 km from the center of Gambarie. You will walk along one of the paths of the Aspromonte National Park, surrounded by immense forests and high altitude clearings. After a panoramic stop, the same path will take you back to the top of the Aspromonte National Park, the Montalto - at 1956 meters, where you will find and admire the statue of Christ the Redeemer and the nearby wind rose with a stone base. You will end the trekking, going back on the paths of Montalto and returning to the starting point.

You will meet the guide in Bova, the starting point of the activity. You'll continue with your vehicle - for about 18 km - following the guide, along a paved road that climbs up to the famous Fields of Bova. Along the way you'll stop to admire some interesting sites, such as the "Passo della Zita", a bridge that takes its name from an ancient legend, and the "Rocche e Caldaie del Drako", a mysterious geological site. As soon as you reach the entrance of the abandoned village,Rughudi, you will park your car in a safe place and continue on foot, crossing the alleys and houses that were abandoned by the people of Rughudi around 1970, following a flood. Thanks to the guide's stories, you will know the history, the myths, the legends and the sufferings of a place that seems entrusted to the void but that with its historical charm can tell everything. Once the visit is over, you will return to Bova with your vehicle, following the guide with whom you have discovered one of the most mysterious and fascinating places in Calabria.

You will meet the guide and with your personal transport you will go to the actual starting point, near the Menta Stream, where the guided trekking will start. The trekking, which includes a distance of about 4 km with a difference in altitude of 250 meters, will allow you to learn about the local fauna and appreciate rare specimens of amphibians such as the "SpectacledSalamander" and the "Spotted Salamander". Entering the woods you will also meet the southern black squirrel and listen to the sound of the green woodpecker. You will continue the trekking among beech trees, white firs and black pines; you will discover the history and the nature and you will know the myths and the legends of which the territory is rich. You will reach, then, the Maesano waterfalls, where you will have time to immortalize the three great jumps of water. You will then end the private trekking through a larch pine forest to reach the final destination, the panoramic point on the south side of Aspromonte and return to the initial meeting point.