The Gole del Calore – Felitto

Felitto jealously guards one of the most enchanting landscapes you can admire in Campania: the protected area of the “Gole del Calore” (Calore Gorges). Set in a deep valley dropping sheer to the river, the Gole del Calore form a landscape still intact in its wild beauty. In these 120 hectares of protected land, from the medieval bridge below Felitto to the border with the territory of Magliano, an unreal silence reigns, where long-forgotten feelings resurface.

The Gole del Calore are among the most interesting trekking itineraries in Cilento. There are many trails you can walk, suited to every need: from a simple stroll along the river to routes for expert trekkers.

Pretatetta

The trail running along the right bank of the river leads to the Pretatetta bridge: a natural arch formed after a landslide of huge boulders that fell from the mountain above the gorges and got wedged between the two banks of the river. The central boulder of the stone bridge is shaped like a pear, or a breast (“tetta”), which is probably where the name comes from. At Pretatetta the riverbed narrows so much that you can touch both banks by stretching out your arms; leaning out from the bridge or going down the steps that lead to the water, you can glimpse a white waterfall, the eddies, the whirlpools and hear the dull roar of the current’s endless swirling.

Grotta di Bennardo

The Grotta di Bennardo can be reached by the trail starting from the left bank of the river. Along the way, as you come out of the scrub in the most exposed stretch, a very striking panoramic view of the gorges from above opens up. You then reach the Grotta di Bennardo, a small stone building dating back to the early 19th century, conceived as a hideout for brigands escaping the law. Later inhabited, in the early 20th century, by a hermit named Bennardo, it is called the Grotta di Bennardo (Bennardo’s Cave) in memory of its last inhabitant. The cave still preserves the remains of the oven, a small cavity in the rock used to store food preserved in salt, two small rooms and the arch of the entrance doorway.

The medieval bridge of Felitto

You can visit the medieval bridge of Felitto via the trail that descends from the historic centre, or by starting from the disused dam at Remolino and following the route of the channel that carried water to the hydroelectric power station. Alternatively, for those who want to walk less, you can get there by parking your car a few metres from a small lane that leads from the main road (SR488) to just above the bridge. The upper Calore Valley boasts a considerable number of medieval bridges, important routes of communication and trade most likely dating back to the early 11th century.

The ones described are just some of the attractions you can discover and visit; the trails offer many different options: from the old lime kilns to the ancient mill, from the beautiful panoramic summit of Monte Chianiello to the medieval humpback bridge of Magliano, from the trail of the rock chapels to the liturgical walk of San Vito… and many other fascinating experiences!

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