Riserva Naturale Monte Rufeno

• Trail Conditions: On foot, On horseback
• Interest: Flora, Wildlife

• Duration: 5 hour/s 30 minutes
• Length: 9.5 km

The natural trail "Acquachiara" owes its name to the homonymous stream along which it develops. This watercourse represents the itinerary's main attraction, thanks to its clear waters and to the beautiful landscape that encloses it, which is still wild and unpolluted. Like all trails, it is ideal for those who love nature and who like going for a nice and peaceful walk outdoors, far from noise. Hikers will learn more about the environment surrounding them, for example about the plants and animals they have encountered along the trail, the rocks, and the traces of past human work (old coal cellars, reforested fields, uncultivated vineyards, olive groves). Along the trail, visitors will find eight of these constructions made of native stones and bricks, characteristic examples of the farming tradition. They were abandoned during the last twenty years, because the poor clayey soil made it extremely difficult to live there. Instead of going on with their hard life of subsistence farming, the share-croppers preferred to leave the land and move to the closest towns, or even farther away, to start off other activities, thus breaking the roots that had kept them tied to these hills for generations. Since it is characterized by steep slopes, the trail is classified as difficult. The walk is marked with by special blue-painted trail markers; blue is also the trail's distinguishing color.