Departure: San Martino d'Agri
Arrival: Gallicchio
Length: 15.9 km
Elevation gain: 560 m
Elevation loss: 600 m
Travel time: 4h50m
The route starts from the centre of San Martino d'Agri, from Piazza Plebiscito (659 m), the ancient Casale Sancti Martini, which enjoys the proximity of the San Giovanni Forest, a magnificent mixed oak forest. The route follows the old walkway with stone steps that lead abruptly down to the valley. Once you reach the paved municipal road, follow it keeping to the left and after about 150 m turn right onto the path that descends towards the Trigella stream, surrounded by dense vegetation, where the ancient mills of San Martino d'Agri are located. The first ruined structures are encountered at km 1.38. Shortly afterwards, after fording the stream at a fairly easy point, at km 1.79 you reach the magnificent Roman mill and fulling mill, recently restored by the Vincenzo Marinelli Cultural Association of San Martino, which has also restored the wooden wheel to working order: a stop here is a must, not least because the ancient stone factory is located in a very pleasant landscape. The path continues along the stream until km 2.13, when it joins the provincial road, turning right towards the south-east. Leave this road at km 3.41, when you have to turn right in Catarozzolo and continue along the right bank of the Agri.
Here, the landscape immediately takes on the typical characteristics of a river environment and, on the right, you can see a striking fossilised beach. at km 4.7, there is a path that leads closer and closer to the banks of the Agri on the bed of the Mascefalo stream, an area where you can encounter animal species typical of the Lucanian Apennine Park, such as spectacled salamanders, lizards, green lizards, tortoises and even otters. The path continues along the Agri, crossing a forest of poplars and willows. At km 5.5, once you reach the riverbed, the landscape opens up and you can see the cultivated fields on the other bank. After 1.3 km, you cross the provincial road again and continue straight ahead. After passing the Nocito stream, turn right and climb the wooded hill, then descend to the Murge di Sant'Oronzo, a spectacular natural sight with its solitary pinnacles that seem to rise up to protect the valley. From here, continue towards the Fosso del Torrente Tavolatella and then turn left to cross the Agri at an easily accessible point, where you need to be careful, especially in winter and spring. Once on the other side, follow the path straight ahead for about 150 m before turning left onto the track that runs parallel to the SS598. At km 9.83, turn right onto the hilltop road that crosses the main road and then turn left onto the path that climbs towards Gallicchio. At km 12, the slopes become steeper until you reach 679 m at the Gallicchio Vetere junction, where you turn left (on the right is the belvedere of the old town), until km 13.6, where you take the pleasant Sentiero Belvedere (Belvedere Trail), which leads downhill for less than two kilometres to Santa Maria del Carmine, the oldest church in Gallicchio.
