The third leg of the “Parallel 39°56′” trek starts from Piano Giumenta and, through the Great Gate of the Pollino, enters the heart of the Park. An immense expanse of loricate pines forms the backdrop to this idyllic scenery. It is no accident that this area has been called the “Garden of the Gods.”
We climb to the summit of Serra delle Ciavole to experience the thrill of 2,110 m altitude. Then, a long and pleasant descent through the Fagosa forest leads in 10 km to Colle Marcione.

Technical description:
Depart at dawn from the Piano Giumenta shelter in hopes of meeting the early morning deer colony that roams between Piano Cardone and Fronte di Mola. You walk along the mountain ridge, interspersing stretches of dense forest with lookouts over the Raganello Valley and the eastern slope of the Pollino Massif.
Taking the CAI 950 trail, the ascent to the Great Gateway of the Pollino, the pass between Serra di Crispo and Serra delle Ciavole that provides access to the Pollino Plains, begins. A must stop at the Raganello spring, a small spring that gives rise to one of the best-known streams in southern Italy. A few kilometers further downstream, in fact, these waters flow into the Raganello Gorge, a canyon of particular beauty.
Passing through the Great Gate, the view opens onto the Garden of the Gods, whose flowers are none other than the centuries-old loricate pines symbolic of the Park. A short path climbs the northwest slope of Serra delle Ciavole, allowing you to touch the lorica-shaped bark from which these giant trees are named.
From the summit, descend along the opposite (southern) slope on the ridge line leading to the Piani di Acquafredda. A very short detour allows you to admire Italus, a 1,230-year-old specimen of loricate pine, considered the oldest scientifically dated living tree in Europe. Within a few hundred meters the scenery changes dramatically. From the rocky slope with wide views of the Pollino Plains, Cresta dell’Infinito, Mount Pollino and Serra Dolcedorme, we plunge into a dense beech forest called “La Fagosa.” The path descends straight down, with a gentle slope, crossing wide plateaus. We then arrive at Colle Marcione, at an elevation of 1,220 m., overwhelmed by the magnificent view of the southwest face of Timpa di San Lorenzo.

Length: 16 km
Elevation gain: 911 m
Downhill elevation gain: 1277 m
Highest point: 2100 m
Lowest point: 1220 m

Technical tips:
Plan a support shuttle to carry food, tents and sleeping bags so that you can fully enjoy the hike without excessive weight.

Municipality of departure: Newfoundland of Pollino
Starting location: Plain of Mare
Municipality of arrival: Civita
Finish location: Marcione Hill

The best time to take this tour is spring or fall. In summer, beware of the scorching heat, preferably leaving early in the morning (especially for the lower altitude stages). In winter, the presence of snow and ice requires the use of technical equipment, such as ice axes and crampons.

Useful links:
http://www.avventurieridelsud.it/parallelo3956.html

This impressive loop trek crosses part of the Pollino National Park along Parallel 39.56., starting and returning from the village of San Lorenzo Bellizzi.

It was first explored in May 2018, when a group of carefree Veronese turned to the Park’s Official Guide, Luca D’Alba, to see the loricate pines and the Raganello Gorges, in one long route involving tent and sleeping bag bivouacs.

The route is 46 km long, divided into 4 daily stages, and passes through some of the park’s most characteristic natural areas, including timps, gorges, beech forests and loricate pines. The variety of wildlife and vegetation and the breathtaking views make this route truly unique-an authentic mountain experience to be enjoyed in any season.