From Carmelia Monte Fistocchio

The morphology of the Aspromonte is softened by plateaus, called plains and fields, which, interrupting the verticality, form large flat expanses on the coast of the mountain like immense balconies overlooking the sea. Devoted to agriculture, these terraces offer an almost regular horizontal profile and represent an almost unique phenomenon in mountain landscapes.

One of the most characteristic floors is the one of Carmelia, on the western side, where the presence of a welcoming mountain cabin (the only one in Aspromonte) and the proximity of a panoramic peak create a very pleasant experience.

Once departed from Biancospino Cabin, continue until you reach the Carmelia-Zervò road where you will meet the first fountains. Take the road to the left, and a little further along turn right on the track called Fontanelle track, still used today by pilgrims who go from the Piana di Gioia Tauro to the Sanctuary of Polsi.

Climbing further, you will catch the sight of the panorama from Palmi to Capo Vaticano. A little further on you will be able to stop at the Scarpa fountain and then “le Fontanelle”. The Brigante’s trail now intersects the road and, immediately after, you reach the Portella Mastrangelo locality. Here passes the asphalted road that comes from Montalto and continues to San Luca. Follow it to the left for a short uphill stretch to the Fistocchio junction. The road continues to the right to San Luca and to the left to the Junco plains.

Our route instead leaves the road and climbs to Monte Fistocchio. From the top you can enjoy a very clear view on both sides, among which the characteristic rocks of Pietra Castello and Pietra Cappa to the southeast and the towns of Delianuova and Scido to the northwest can be distinguished. The high peaks of the Aspromonte can also be clearly seen, with Montalto to the southwest and Pietra Tagliata to the west. On the small plateau on the top of the mountain you will notice a large amount of boulders and blocks of rock cut into various and irregular shapes which would confirm the once-existing settlement.

In a document of 500 years ago, in fact, it speaks of the existence of ruins: ““esce alla serra dello Sturchio donde sono certe muraglie antiche, et detta serra similiter sagliendo esce et va alla pietra della spatacomena idest pietra tagliata de spata ” (Pompeo Basso, Apprezzo of March 15, 1586, in the State Archives of Reggio Calabria). According to scholars, the state of the places does not allow to establish the type of this settlement but the most likely hypothesis is that it was a military post, a very privileged lookout point, guarding the road that connected the fortress of Pietra Castello with that of Santa Cristina, located on the two sides of the Aspromonte.

(Text taken from “CamminAspromonte edited by A. Picone Chiodo CAI RC 2006”)

Difference in altitude: about 300 m

Length: about 10 km

Duration: about 4 hours

Type Route: linear trail (out-and-back)