The Valli Cupe Regional Nature Reserve is located in the midst of foothills in the province of Catanzaro, in the south eastern sector of the Sila range. It occupies a large part of Sersale (CZ) and some of Zagarise and Cerva. Thanks to the vicinity of the sea, the reserve with its gullies, hundred-odd waterfalls, seven canyons and monoliths has a special wealth of vegetation with ancient trees and rare species.
Sersale is the access point for the Valli Cupe canyon, where 8km of ancient paths lead through woods filled with Mediterranean undergrowth with plants such as the manna ash, mastic and ciofeca. In Calabrian dialect, “cupe” means pitted which refers to the numerous holes in the rock face like those of mount Raga. Some parts of the canyon, created by water erosion, are particularly narrow with cliffs about 150m high, mostly sand with traces of granite and gneiss, a demonstration of the marina presence in the area in the past.
The Crocchio waterfalls and canyons with natural water tanks (i vulli) surrounded by a rare fern, osmanda regalis can be found outside the urban settlement of Sersale, on the road to Cervia. The 22m high Campanaro waterfall begins in river Campanaro, with a small arched bridge. Other places of interest include the Inferno waterfall, several centuries-old chestnut trees and the Pietra Aggìallu monolith.
Fondazione Calabria Film Commission
Cittadella Regione Calabria — Località Germaneto — 88100 Catanzaro
Phone: +39 0961 853836
Email: info@calabriafilmcommission.it
