SI T05

Leaving Monte Alpi, the Pollino National Park leads towards the Lucanian Apennines National Park, whose southern extension is in the Sirino Massif. Castelsaraceno is an ancient and characteristic village, known for the 'Ndenna' festival, a traditional tree rite celebrated during the first three Sundays of June, in honor of the patron saint, St. Anthony. From the historic center, by climbing the narrow streets, you reach the cemetery via a trail, passing by the recently constructed long Tibetan bridge. From the cemetery, the path continues easily to Timpa del Conte, first on an asphalt road, then on a dirt track, where water puddles may form during rainy periods. Continuing on asphalt, after about 6.5 km, you arrive at Timpa La Murgia, where you re-enter the trail that skirts the southern slope of Serra Giumenta, leading to the municipal road Lauria Conserva. After about a kilometer on asphalt, you enter the last section of the trail that leads through the beeches of the Conserva forest to the refuge of the same name. The structure serves the small ski resort with a slope that connects to Lake Laudemio, in the area of Lagonegro, from which other small slopes start. On the first Sunday of June, known as 'Antenna', the men climb to Bosco Favino to cut the most beautiful beech; on the second Sunday of June, the fir tree, or 'cunocchia', is cut on Monte Armizzone. Finally, on the third Sunday of June, the symbolic 'marriage among the trees' is celebrated, where skilled hands unite the trunk of the beech ('ndenna', the groom) and the top of the fir ('cunocchia', the bride) to then raise it and celebrate in the square.