Calabria (Southern Italy) is a land of rivers dry summer and winter impetuous, comeil Assi river that shines with the brilliance of its white stones.
  • Travelling time: 4 hours
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Why we love it: For the contrast between the clarity of the water and the harshness of the landscape.
  • Length: 6 km
  • Total Elevation Gain: 80 m
  • Way to travel: on foot
  • Cost: 0
  • Our Advice: it is advisable to make the trail with a guide (between spring and autumn) and equipped with a water bottle.

The route starts going down a dirt road that leads in the bed of the Assi torrent, in Calabria, South Italy.

All around mountains that rise into the sky.

Assi river, Calabria South Italy
Mountains around Assi River, Calabria

 

In the initial part of the path, the river bed is wide and white shiny. At one point, at the confluence with the stream Mulinelle, in the Zessi district, you can admire the remains of ancient pagliari (houses of shepherds).

Assi river, Calabria South Italy
ph. by Massimiliano Capalbo

Continuing along the path you can admire the torrent from the riverbed, surrounded by beautiful wild mountains.

Assi river, Calabria South Italy
White color of the Assi river, Calabria South Italy

 

Go down in the bed and go for a challenging stretch where landslides have erased the ancient path, the starting canyoning.

Sul greto dell'Assi inizia il percorso di torrentismo
Sul greto dell'Assi inizia il percorso di torrentismo, foto di Massimiliano Capalbo

 

Going further meet the first waterfalls, the river bed becomes littered with rocks from which are formed several jumps to the largest waterfall that of Pietracupa that ends in a pool where in the summer months it is pleasant to dive for a refreshing swim.

Waterfall of Assi river, Calabria, South Italy
Waterfall of Assi river, ph. by Massimiliano Capalbo

 

Natural swimming pool along the river Assi, Calabria
Natural waterfalls and swimming pool along the river Assi, Calabria
Natural swimming pool along the river Assi, Calabria
Natural swimming pool along the river Assi, Calabria, ph. by Massimiliano Capalbo