Snowshoeing and trekking in the beech forests, walks in the woods and excursions to the summits: for those who love the snow, in Basilicata there is a new "white philosophy" that invites us to get off the beaten track and enjoy the slow and authentic rhythms of nature.
The watchword here is to slow down. You have to adjust your rhythm to that of nature to understand the magic of these wild lands. Slow down and breathe. Only in this way can the enchantment become visible: the snow-covered plains and forests, the wild peaks clothed in white, the glimpses of clear sky between the profiles of thousand-year-old trees. It seems like a Nordic fairy tale, but we are in the white heart of the South, between the Pollino National Park – the largest and wildest natural park in Italy – and the Lucano-Val D’Agri Lagonegrese Apennine National Park.
The longest Tibetan bridge in the world
Linking these two splendid national parks is the World’s Longest Tibetan Bridge in Castelsaraceno, ready to provide a thrill even in the snowy season. An unprecedented viewpoint over the Racanello river canyon, which flows 80 metres below, it stretches from the oldest part of the heart-shaped village to a rocky spur on the slopes of Mount Raparo and is a real gateway to the secret of still little-known forests.
The magic of snow: snowshoeing and trekking, all the beauty of nature
Snowshoeing in the characteristic beech woods of Bosco Favino, along the internal paths up to the highest altitudes, is an all-embracing experience: the silence and peace of these landscapes have the power to relax the soul, to reconcile man with nature. Beech forests are one of the hallmarks of the Lucano-Val D’Agri Lagonegrese Apennine National Park, rich in majestic tall trees, some of which are very old, such as the famous Pino Loricato, a relict of the last ice age.
Emotions in the snow: the Basilicata you don't expect
It is precisely in the winter season that Lucania’s five ski areas, Sellata – Arioso, Volturino, Viggiano, Sirino and Pollino, offer the most exciting outdoor activities. With boots, skis or snowshoes on their feet, anyone can conquer the Lucanian mountains, which at this time of year are still dressed in white to attract the amazed gaze of tourists.
Winter at high altitude, in the silence of snowy nature
On the summit of Monte Alpi, one of the highest and most evocative in the Lucano Apennines, you can almost hear the breath of nature. This is one of the most interesting and intact areas from an environmental and naturalistic point of view: it can be visited all year round, but it is during the winter that it shows off its most beautiful dress. Here, in winter, you walk slowly with boots or snowshoes on your feet. The silence, the scents of the woodland, the wild animals such as the rare Southern Black Squirrel – a species native to Basilicata that loves to leap through the trees in these periods – are all part of the magic of these places. Itineraries to be savoured one step at a time, to experience the mountains in a more conscious way and rediscover the true charm of nature at high altitudes.
