Page 13 - Mediterraneo e dintorni - nr 29

Meraviglioso esemplare di toro

Italus, l’albero pió vecchio d’Euorpa,
1230 anni
Cavalli bradi

affascinanti del Pollino si possono Durante le nostre frequenti
visitare solo camminando, e escursioni nel Parco incontriamo
tanto. È forse questa la vera non di rado visitatori provenienti
forza che consente al Parco di da ogni parte del mondo che
sopravvivere in maniera così vengono a vedere da vicino questi
incontaminata. Niente strade meravigliosi esemplari. E c’è
sterrate (solo qualche carrareccia un posto in particolare, su Serra
limitata a quota 1900 e praticabile di Crispo, a quota 2.053, dove
esclusivamente ai mezzi della il Loricato è riuscito a creare un
Forestale), niente impianti di vero e proprio habitat esclusivo:
risalita che tanto hanno invece il Giardino degli Dei. Un luogo
deturpato altrove, niente di magico, dove la cosiddetta
niente: solo sentieri e sentieri. “sindrome di Stendhal” ci coglie

people. The Loricato is the only tree that can grow and develop, at these latitudes,
over two thousand meters above sea level, and is present exclusively in an area of the
Balkan peninsula, in the area of Mount Olympus. It inhabits the highest and most
inaccessible rocky ridges and appeared on the Pollino after the last ice age. And it
is a Loricato also the oldest tree in Europe, Italus, present at the slopes of Serra delle
Ciavole, which experts have recently estimated to be 1230 years old. And these areas,
like all the highest and most fascinating areas of Pollino can be visited only by walking,
and a lot. Perhaps this is the real strength that allows the Park to survive in such an
uncontaminated way. No dirt roads, only paths and trails. And there is one place in
particular, on Serra di Crispo, at 2,053 meters above sea level, where the Loricato has
managed to create a real exclusive habitat: the Garden of the Gods. Pollino is the
kingdom of eagles, crows, black stork and many other creatures. But it is also a land of
rivers and gorges among the deepest in Europe: the Lao, the Caldanello and especially
those of Raganello that from San Lorenzo Bellizzi arrive in Civita, all in Calabrian
territory. In the evergreen “expanses” that lie at the base of the highest peaks live
then happy and free hundreds of wonderful horses. They choose these places because
they have pools of water and grass at will. We have defined them the “wild horses of
Pollino”. They live in herds and have become accustomed to be observed relatively
closely and also to live with a lot of cows and calves, and some beautiful bull. We have

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