The beauty of... Raganello gorges. Cosenza, Italy

Calabria is a region characterized by the twin tourist attraction sea / mountain.

Almost the entire region is bathed by the sea (coastline stretching for over 780 km) east of the Tyrrhenian Sea and to the west and south by the Ionian Sea, while beaches unmatched by dealing jagged and crystalline waters, its land to 90% are hills and mountains.

Suffice it to say that is the only region of Italy to host three National Parks (Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte).

Today along with aunts and cousins decide to go with the destination of the Pollino National Park.

Between the gorges to visit in the Park Pollino, the Raganello deserves to be mentioned for its wild landscape and enchanted.

Visit the Raganello by the opportunity to learn more about the town Civita, of Albanian origin. few houses in the peak of the canyon.

Civita is reachable from Castrovillari (exit A3 Castrovillari - Frascineto) following No. 105 towards the Ionian Sea.

Civita, also known as the land of the Devil's Bridge, is a hilly town of North East of Calabria overlooking the Ionian Sea, privileged access door to the Pollino National Park for visitors from Puglia, southern Calabria and Sicily.

Civita is one of the Italo-Albanian (Arberesh) arose at the end of the Middle Ages in Central and Southern Europe.
Founded around 1471 by Albanian refugees arrived on the Calabrian coast jonica after death its national Giorgio Castriota Skanderbeg, Civita located on a natural terrace overlooking the spectacular gorges of Raganello that expands into one of the most beautiful valleys of South Pollino East before the river flows into the Ionian sea.

Civita is within the territory of the Parco Nazionale del Pollino at 450 m asl Calabrian side dell'omonimo massive and is the ideal starting point for excursions on foot, horseback and mountain bike along with experienced guides and qualified in the uncontaminated nature of the largest national park in Europe.

The country is also in an ideal position to reach the beaches of the Ionian Sea (at about 20 Km) and the spa resorts of the Ionian and Cassano Spezzano Terme.

The rich landscape of Civita is not just environmental; Albanian refugees who founded the country with a heritage all ethnic, religious and cultural integrity was preserved by successive generations until today.
From greek-Byzantine rite, which still celebrates Mass, with folk dances such as engaging vallje, the characteristic architecture of stone houses which create a strong medieval enriched with very special oriental chimneys lines, the typical the costumes for the elderly are the clothes every day, reaching the same language spoken by civitesi, proudly handed down from generation to generation that makes Civita one of the few islands Albanian in Italy, it comes with a full immersion in another time and another place where the passing of the hours take other colors, sounds, smells and tastes

Civita of a visitor will then be observed, explored, and then pry tell, once back in their daily lives, a place near and yet exotic, that will surprise and involve all-round everyone who decides to visit him. Civita is a tourist center known for its natural beauty (Ponte del Diavolo, Canyon del Raganello, Timpa of Property, Parco del Pollino) and its socio-cultural characteristics.
Leave the car near the Piazzetta began our adventure. De Civita descend to reach the spectacular Ponte del Diavolo, opera recently restored medieval on Gorge Raganello.La Legend has it that the bridge was built by the devil, offering a wonderful insight into the final stretch of the canyon.

 

The adventure begins

The sky is blue and the sun gives us indescribable colors.

Our clothing is full of comfortable shorts, costume, backpack to shoulder camera Sony DSC W70 diving, trekking sandals needed to walk between the rocks slippery ((purchased prior to joining Civita)) full spare towel and leave in the car by .

The initial journey is always down, a little tiring and the scenario before us changing. A dense red mountains, streams, birds and oleanders colorari make us love the place.

The path at times very dangerous, with currents of water ice and rock just as wet and slippery, there is fear. The colors are very intense.

Everything is natural, it must be very careful, in case of falling against the rocks you are alone, no help, no aid. There you go, walk with great care to look always to the ground, sometimes it happens that the water is deep so you need to let go, do not think the cold water temperature and dive .. few strokes and it was back on their feet.

Every throat is where it should be crossed with more courage and determination can go on the show more increases.

After more than 1 hour of walking the sky becomes dark, the wind increases .. understand that the rain is coming, and change of direction is back.

Other tourists decide to go ahead with the help of a wire trying to overcome the high pools of water ice, how do you take certain paths if you are not able to swim?

In vain our considerations on the weather .. just continue .. their fate is not known .. began to rain and very strong in the rain, cold water, rocks and waterfalls, the danger was behind them all over ..

We managed to traverse the route back very quickly rain and wind against us climb over the country but we have done ...
Undergone a change in the car .. We literally soaked, it's very cold there shaking his legs, the water of the rocks does not exceed 10 ° ((maybe less))

Recommend changes to sub for the short cold especially in the periods from autumn to spring, the mountain climbing helmet would be better to wear.

It continues to rain down our sandwiches in the backpack are inzuppati water, and then decide to take refuge in the restaurant and apparently very interesting.
It's called Agora is located in the village square. To offer maximum host the Agora offers a rich and delicious appetizers that includes samples of all this concerns the most typical of our area, from cheese to cold cuts, ham, frittelline of the season to stress in extra virgin olive oil until the goodness of the potato farmer.
((More than 10 portions all very good))

We follow with the first 2 dishes seasoned with gravy and mushrooms in season until you get to the meat of lamb, veal, pork cooked over coals, and finally other tripe of the boar to veal our own tastes, and the chop meatballs, pork with COTICH beans, goat heads in the oven to legnaPossiamo say that was a delight to sit in that restaurant and enjoy all these well-prepared specialties. Do not imagine the price that we paid only € 130.00 in 5 persons including 3 bottles of fine red wine, water and coffee!

Website http://www.agoraristorazione.it/

Final Recommendations
Venture to the Gorges of Raganello is certainly a beautiful full of emotions, but we must remember that there are no aid and the difficulties that exist, and accept more good weather and get out of gorges in the hours with even a light to illuminate the path return.
The danger is to remain locked throughout the night of cold and nothing to eat