Aspromare Hiking Experience

The AsproMare trek begins with the stage, which we consider the most spectacular of the entire trek. It is a halfway path overlooking the sea in one of the most beautiful places in the entire Mediterranean. Here the coast rises vertically up to the altitude of 576 meters of Monte Sant’Elia allowing a spectacular 180 ° view of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, from the Strait of Messina to the promontory of Capo Vaticano passing by the Aeolian islands and the Stromboli volcano. This sea and its stretch of coast have witnessed the evolution of the ancient history of the “fishermen-farmers” and the old terraces on the slopes are considered proof of this.  

Technical Info

• Municipalities: Palmi, Seminara, Bagnara
• Difficulty level: medium
• Start: 575 meters above sea level
• Target: 0 m above sea level
• Maximum altitude: 575 meters above sea level
• Minimum altitude: 0 meters above sea level
• The difference in altitude: 782 m down, 208 m up
• Hike from the summit of Monte Sant’Elia to the cliff of San Sebastiano
• Walking time: approx. 6/7 hours
• Drinking water: on Monte Sant’Elia
• Clothing: adapted to the season, long trousers recommended
• Catering: picnic

The second stage starts from the sea or rather at the beach of Bagnara, a famous coastal town, and ends in Scilla. The route leads us through a deep valley with steep mountain slopes and then climbs on an old path towards the highlands. The view of the sea of Odysseus accompanies us on the way and on the horizon we can see the profile of the Aeolian Islands. The panorama is almost unbelievable, and the path leads us closer to the mythical places from Homer’s stories. Over plateaus and through deep valleys, rural roads, and steep paths until the scenery suddenly opens onto the fabulous fishing village of Scilla, which is almost at the entrance of the strait of Messina.  

Technical Info

• Municipalities: Bagnara, Scilla
• Difficulty level: advanced
• Start: 0 m above sea level
• Target: 0 m above sea level
• Maximum altitude: 577 meters above sea level
• Minimum altitude: 0 meters above sea level
• The difference in altitude: 735 m up, 735 m down
• Hike from Bagnara to Scilla
• Walking time: approx. 6/7 hours
• Drinking water: at the departure and at the arrival
• Clothing: adapted to the season, long trousers recommended
• Catering: picnic
  

Our third stage starts in Scilla, the pearl of our trek and a place steeped in history, which, together with the opposite Charybdis, is closely linked to the mythical figure of Odysseus. In this sea and at this point, Odysseus has been confronted with natural forces embodied by two cruel sea monsters. The path is challenging from the start and leads first through terraced vineyards and then through a thick forest with Mediterranean scrub. We leave Scilla and the sea behind us to reach a path that leads us to Fiumara after various ascents and descents and past old walls and fortresses.  

Technical Info

• Municipalities: Scilla, Campo Calabro, Fiumara
• Difficulty level: medium
• Start: 0 m above sea level
• Target: 221 m above sea level
• Maximum altitude: 467 meters above sea level
• Minimum altitude: 0 meters above sea level
• The difference in altitude: 757 m up, 578 m down
• Hike from Scilla to Fiumara
• Walking time: approx. 6/7 hours
• Drinking water: at the departure and at the arrival
• Clothing: adapted to the season, long trousers recommended
• Catering: picnic

The fourth stage leads us inland, but always offers wonderful views of the sea. The ambiance is rural and the landscape is rough and furrowed by deep valleys. The villages seem to stick to the slopes and are inhabited by proud and hospitable people. This also applies to our destination Laganadi. The area presents itself at its best, especially in spring, when the meadows turn into a sea of flowers and the plateaus glow deep green. The part of the Aspromonte that belongs to the Aspromonte National Park rises in front of us and we hike along the border during this part of the trek.  

Technical Info

• Municipalities: Fiumara, Calanna, Laganadi
• Difficulty level: medium
• Start: 221 m above sea level
• Target: 544 m above sea level
• Maximum altitude: 786 meters above sea level
• Minimum altitude: 137 meters above sea level
• The difference in altitude: 702 m up, 242 m down
• Hike from Fiumara to Laganadi
• Walking time: approx. 6/7 hours
• Drinking water: at the departure and at the arrival
• Clothing: adapted to the season, long trousers recommended
• Catering: picnic

The fifth and final stage of the AsproMare trek reaches its spectacular climax and conclusion, especially in the last part. We descend from the village of Laganadi into the river valley and then on the opposite side towards the mountain village of Orti. In this part, we reach the maximum height of the trek at 786 m above sea level. Now the descent begins on a spectacular path that takes us to our destination via various sea terraces and with a breathtaking view of Mount Etna, the Strait of Messina, and the city of Reggio Calabria. This is also the last continental stretch of the Sentiero Italia.    

Technical Info

• Municipalities: Laganadi, Reggio Calabria
• Difficulty level: advanced
• Start: 544 m above sea level
• Target: 0 m above sea level
• Maximum altitude: 672 meters above sea level
• Minimum altitude: 0 meters above sea level
• The difference in altitude: 702 m up, 535 m down
• Hike from Laganadi to Reggio Calabria
• Walking time: approx. 6/7 hours
• Drinking water: at the departure, during the trek, and at the arrival
• Clothing: adapted to the season, long trousers recommended
• Catering: picnic