The Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane Park extends for 27,027 hectares in the territory of the municipalities of Accettura, Calciano, Oliveto Lucano in the province of Matera, Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa in the province of Potenza.
The Park encloses and protects a large area located in the center of the Basilicata territory which has important naturalistic, historical and ethno-anthropological values. There is a rich presence of watercourses in the form of torrents and springs, of a seasonal nature. The Park is a precious treasure trove of biodiversity in Italy due to the richness of species that are sometimes unique both in terms of flora and fauna. The most interesting elements that characterize the Park are:
The Gallipoli Cognato Forest which extends for over 4,200 hectares, a large green spot made up of variegated tree and shrub species among which there are tall Turkey oaks, which reach enormous dimensions in higher areas. Other secondary species are hornbeam, maples and hornbeams.
The Small Lucanian Dolomites whose maximum peak reaches 1,319 m. of Mount Impiso, and the bizarre profiles sculpt the suggestive landscape of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa.
The Caperrino mountain (1,400 m.) which represents the most harmonious ridge of the mountain complex
The Montepiano wood formed by majestic and secular specimens of Turkey oak, also thriving with maples and white hornbeams and holly trees used during the May festival
The archaeological site of Monte Croccia with the remains of the fortification of the Lucan city built in the 4th century. BC The Gallipoli Cognato Park offers a rare spectacle of vegetation made up of trees, flowers and species that are sometimes unique in nature. The vegetative mantle is diversified according to the altitude, exposure and humidity, with the presence of the Cerro Quercus Cerris, as the most widespread tree species. There are at altitudes between 800 and 1,000 meters above sea level. specimens of wild apple, field maple, fig maple which, in autumn, create the beautiful reddish spots. In the Montepiano wood, near Accettura, columnar oaks and two different tree layers can be observed: the first, dominant, consisting of Cerro and Roveri, dominates the second of Aceri, Carpini and Tigli. Also at the highest altitudes are the Carpino Bianco, the Carpinella and the rare Holly. At these altitudes the vegetation becomes dense and, at times, impenetrable with the trees often covered in ivy with powerful stems.
Chestnut woods appear near the Lucanian Dolomites, near Pietrapertosa; noteworthy is the Onosma Lucana, an exclusive endemic species discovered by Lacaita, and the Linaria Dalmatica with yellow flowers, of which the rocks of Pietrapertosa constitute one of the rare areas of presence in Italy currently known.
In areas where the vegetation is more regular and less dense, the woods have numerous plants such as ferns, cyclamen, white and blue anemones; in the clearings the saffron with intense yellow flowers and the Knautia Lucana, another endemic species exclusive to the area, discovered by Lacaita.
Along the slopes of Mount Caperrino, covered by Turkey oaks and pastures, in spring you can observe vast blooms of orchids, anemones and buttercups. The numerous paths marked out in the Park will allow you to experience an unaltered nature that is never without surprises.