Pollino National Park

The Pollino National Park (Italian: Parco nazionale del Pollino) is a national park in Basilicata and Calabria, southern Italy. Comprised within the provinces of Cosenza, Matera and Potenza, with its 1,820 square kilometres it is the largest natural park in the country. It takes its name from the Pollino Massif (highest peak 2,267 m).

It was founded in 1992 and includes both natural and archaeological points of interest. The park's symbol is the Bosnian Pine, which here has one of its last remaining growing areas in Italy. Towns with interesting sights include Rotonda, Castrovillari, Morano Calabro (convent of Colloreto), Laino Castello, Mormanno, Scalea, Papasidero, Civita, Cerchiara (church of Madonna delle Armi). Albanian-speaking communities are present in communes such as San Paolo Albanese, San Costantino Albanese and others. In the Valle del Mercure have been discovered remains of pre-historic species such as Elephas antiquus and Hippopotamus major.

Rivers and streams include the Lao, Sinni, Coscile and Raganello.

Amongst the various trees of the park, notable species include Abies alba, Acer lobelii, Fagus sylvatica, Pinus heldreichii, Pinus nigra, Taxus baccata and others. Wildlife include Golden Eagle, Italian Wolf, Roe Deer, Black Woodpecker, Chough, Peregrine Falcon, Red Kite, Lanner Falcon, Driomys nitedula, Egyptian Vulture, European Otter and Deer

External links

• Official website (Italian) (English)
• Pages by the Park Authority on Parks.it