SI U01
Hiking
After the stages in Sardinia and Sicily, the Sentiero Italia moves to the mainland, starting from Reggio Calabria with a challenging leg in terms of length and elevation gain, featuring beautiful views of the Strait of Messina, the Aeolian Islands, and Mount Etna. In a single day, it leads to the ski resort of Gambarie, located in the Aspromonte National Park, which is now part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks. Leaving the port, the trail begins on a wide city avenue toward the motorway junction on Via Lia; after about 100 meters, the actual path starts along a sandy trail leading to the hill of Pentimele, where an extraordinary piece of military engineering is located—an Umbertine era fortification built between 1884 and 1890 by the will of King Umberto I of Savoy for territorial defense. Ascending and looking north, on a plateau across the valley, one can admire the beautiful Monastery of the Sisters of the Visitation, which features a mosaic of the Sacred Heart of Jesus created by Jesuit Father Ivan Marko Rupnik inside the church, along with a guesthouse reachable in about an hour's walk from Monte Rigà. After passing the plain of Sant'Anna and the Passo di Ortì, at the Passo di Arasì, the asphalt ends, and the trail continues alternating dirt paths with long stretches of paved road until the Passo della Serra. It resumes on a country road that crosses a holm oak forest until reaching the Piani di Reggio and continues on a paved route to the Piani di Bosurgi, which, together with the fields of Reggio, form a small plateau characterized by scattered houses and cultivated lands. Among rows of pines and firs, and with a few apple and cherry trees, we reach the provincial road where the majestic Monte Basilicò rises at an altitude of 1730 meters. After crossing State Road No. 183 at Gornelle, the path continues through stunning beech forests, a picnic area, and the historic Tre Aie fountain, until reaching Piazza Mangeruca in Gambarie at an altitude of 1300 meters. There are various options for refreshment and accommodation.
