From the sea towards the mountains
The Orsomarso mountains and Pollino from Santa Maria del Cedro
Behind the beaches of the Riviera dei Cedri lie rivers, beech woods and rocky peaks. Get to know the Orsomarso mountains, choose a view in Pollino or spend a day in a valley. By evening, you can be sitting on the Cedromare terrace again.
Across the Cedromare guide
Mountains above the Riviera dei Cedri
One morning by the sea, the next day among beech trees or in a mountain clearing. In Santa Maria del Cedro, you do not have to choose just one landscape for your whole holiday. Just behind the coastal towns rise the Monti dell’Orsomarso, the western part of the extensive Pollino National Park.
Grisolia, Maierà, Verbicaro and Buonvicino let you begin with stone lanes and a look at the surrounding slopes. Further inland are river valleys, forest tracks and peaks. High Pollino, with Monte Pollino and Dolcedorme, is a separate destination involving a longer drive.
A mountain may be close to the coast, yet the road to the trailhead can go around the massif. That is why our day-trip plans by car list the destination and the starting point of the walk separately.
Valleys and woodland paths
Argentino and Cascata Ficara
In the Argentino valley, your gaze moves from the water to the wooded slopes. On a walk you can look at the plants and pause quietly beside the river. Orsomarso is the starting point for exploring the lower valley; longer routes lead deeper into the mountains.
The reserve manager describes the Ficara waterfall and the arboretum. It is worth agreeing your access route before setting off. The Orsomarso day plan separates the town, the valley walk and the picnic.
Abatemarco, from historic sites to a rocky valley
The Abatemarco links the coastal area with the mountain interior. Near Santa Maria del Cedro, it is accompanied by the remains of an old settlement and Castello di San Michele. Higher up, the landscape becomes one of deeply cut river channels and steep rocky slopes.
The castle is a good place to begin exploring this history. The upper valley is best visited with a guide, after choosing a specific access route. Get to know Castello di San Michele.
Verbicaro and the Via della Transumanza
The old shepherds’ route from Le Cuture crosses woods and open ground behind Verbicaro. An account from the local CAI describes views of Montea, La Caccia, Pellegrino and La Mula from here. It is an interesting way to get to know the mountains before choosing a particular summit.
It is best to agree the current route with CAI Verbicaro. A shorter visit to the town itself can be combined with the area around Santuario San Francesco di Paola, after checking access to the sanctuary.
Buonvicino, Corvino and Madonna della Neve
Above Buonvicino rise the rocks and wooded slopes of the Corvino valley. Gola del Corvino and Sasso dei Greci are part of the landscape described by Pollino National Park. Longer mountain walks towards Madonna della Neve also pass through the Serapodolo area.
A stroll through Buonvicino and a hike through these mountains are two different plans. For a first visit, the town is enough; choose the full walking route with a guide who knows the current access conditions.
Novacco, Tavolara and Pietra Campanara
From the Saracena side, the woods and clearings of Piano Novacco open up. Beech trees, the spacious interior of the massif and rocky Pietra Campanara show a different side of the mountains from the rugged coast. Tavolara is another hiking destination, while Caramolo is a separate summit option.
Choose one of these destinations for the day. A CAI account from April 2026 mentions fallen trees on the return from Tavolara, so check the current route with CAI Castrovillari.
Cascata del Vuglio in Sangineto
At Vuglio, water runs between the rocks, and visits take place with people authorised by the manager. It is a separate idea for a visit to Sangineto, with a date chosen on the organiser’s website. Picnics and swimming are not permitted in the waterfall area.
A picnic beside the Argentino at Rifugio Montano
At Povera Mosca, you can plan a meal at a wooden table beside the river. Rifugio Montano describes an equipped picnic area with toilets and a bar. Arrange a table and access with the venue, taking the valley’s vehicle access rules into account. Picnic area information.
Pollino National Park and protected valleys
Pollino covers both the Orsomarso mountains to the west and the higher areas on the border between Calabria and Basilicata. A single journey can take in very different landscapes: a river in the woods, open clearings, limestone walls and the distinctive pino loricato pines.
Parco Nazionale del Pollino
The park is also a UNESCO geopark. Its story is told through rocks, caves, mountain plains and ancient traces of human presence. In practice, it is best to choose one valley or one trail rather than try to see the whole park at once. The Pollino National Park website publishes information about places, routes and guides.
Valle del Fiume Argentino Nature Reserve
This state nature reserve lies in the municipality of Orsomarso, within Pollino National Park. It protects the river valley and the surrounding slopes. Orsomarso is a natural starting point for visitors exploring the lower part of the valley.
Valle del Fiume Lao Nature Reserve
The Lao has its own state nature reserve. The river runs through the mountains, and selected stretches can be explored on organised rafting trips. The guide to rafting on the Lao will help you choose a base and type of outing.
Valle del Fiume Abatemarco, a Natura 2000 site
The Abatemarco is also protected as a ZSC, a Special Area of Conservation. This is a different form of protection from a national park. Its landscape and connection with the Pellegrino mountains are worth exploring, but access to the upper valley needs to follow a specific route.
The peaks of Orsomarso
Cozzo del Pellegrino is the highest peak in the Monti dell’Orsomarso. Nearby, La Mula and the other ridges form an extensive mountain landscape. Reaching these summits calls for experience, fitness and a full day. Their names are worth getting to know even if you choose valleys and viewpoints instead.
| Peak | Height | Type of outing |
|---|---|---|
| Cozzo del Pellegrino | 1987 m | Demanding routes from Piano di Lanzo. |
| Monte La Mula | 1935 m | A separate mountain day from the Piano di Lanzo side. |
| Monte Caramolo | 1827 m | Walks from the Novacco woods. |
| Montea | 1825 m | For experienced hikers; access to the starting point needs to be confirmed. |
| Monte La Caccia | 1744 m | Long ascents and rocky sections. |
| Monte Palanuda | 1632 m | A mountain near the Argentino reserve. |
Piano di Lanzo
Piano di Lanzo, on the San Donato di Ninea side, is a starting point described by CAI for Pellegrino and La Mula. The drive approaches the massif from a different side to the Argentino valley. Choose one mountain for each outing, returning to the same starting point.
Trincello and Ciagola
Monte Trincello and the Piano la Sepa clearings appear in descriptions of Verbicaro’s natural surroundings. For Monte Ciagola, the park lists trail 654 from Piazza Umberto I in Papasidero, intended for experienced hikers. It is worth setting aside a separate day for this outing after getting to know the town.
High Pollino and old pines
Monte Pollino, 2248 m
You leave the woods for open slopes, and the view widens as you climb. Monte Pollino calls for a day devoted to the mountains. One ascent starts at Colle Impiso and passes through the Gaudolino area. We describe a guided option and a plan for the whole day separately.
Serra Dolcedorme, 2267 m
The massif’s highest peak rises above the high clearings. The ascents involve substantial elevation gain, so Dolcedorme is an option for visitors who are also coming for more serious mountain walking. It is best to discuss the complete route, including the descent, with a guide.
Serra del Prete, 2181 m
Serra del Prete rises above the Piano Ruggio area. From the Malvento viewpoint, a further ascent leads towards it. For a shorter day, choose just the viewpoint. The summit remains an option for a longer outing.
Serra di Crispo and Grande Porta
According to the park’s route information, Serra di Crispo reaches 2053 m. Around it and at Grande Porta, pino loricato pines help shape the landscape, with sturdy trunks and crowns formed by mountain conditions. Reaching these places calls for a full hike, with time allowed for the return.
Serra delle Ciavole
Rocky Serra delle Ciavole forms part of the high ground around the Pollino clearings. The park describes a demanding section from Grande Porta to the central summit. It is a destination for a longer hike by experienced walkers, with the approach to Grande Porta coming first.
Italus and the story of long-lived trees
Italus, a pine more than a thousand years old, grows in Pollino. Its exact location is not publicly disclosed. The story of Italus invites you to look more closely at the other old pines along the trail, too.
Views without climbing a summit
Piano Ruggio and Belvedere del Malvento
The broad Piano Ruggio clearing, beech woodland and views of rocks dotted with pines make a lovely outing without climbing the highest peaks. Belvedere del Malvento is the destination of trail 900 from Rifugio De Gasperi. This is the viewpoint in question, not the distant Malavento pass below Dolcedorme.
Civita and the Raganello view
Civita combines arbëreshë culture with views of the Raganello’s rock walls. The municipality describes the Djepeza viewpoint, where you can see the gorge landscape from above. The town and the view are reason enough to come, without descending into the riverbed.
Access to Ponte del Diavolo needs to be checked separately. Our visit plan does not include entering the gorge or following the Via delle Capre trail.
Closer to the sea, Cirella Vecchia offers views of the island and coastline. You can choose an afternoon here between longer days in the mountains.
How to choose your day in the mountains
Start with the landscape: a river and woods, a viewpoint or a summit. Then match the length of the walk to the slowest person in your group. Check whether the distance in the route description includes returning to the car.
For high routes, take hiking boots, water, food and clothing for changes in the weather. In the colder months, conditions on a ridge may be completely different from those on the coast. It is best to check current access and weather with a guide listed by the park.
After a day in the woods or on a mountain, you return to Cedromare by the sea. The next morning can be for the beach.