Palazzo Margherita

Travel into Pollino National Park to see the region’s mix of natural landscapes and traditional villages. Along the way, you’ll pass churches, monasteries, ruins and castles, each with its own history. Local towns maintain their customs, celebrating events in traditional costumes and serving food unique to the area. In villages like San Costantino and San Paolo Albanese, you’ll witness religious processions and hear the Arbereshe language still spoken today.

Walking or driving through the park, you’ll experience both nature and culture in one trip. The visit gives context to local life and history while moving through a varied and historically rich landscape.

Take part in a cooking session focused on traditional local pasta. Starting with fresh dough, you’ll learn to shape three types of pasta while following guidance on technique and consistency. Once the pasta is ready, you’ll prepare a simple first course with a tomato-based sauce, using ingredients that reflect local flavour. The session emphasises process and taste rather than presentation or complexity, giving you a practical understanding of how pasta is made and cooked in the region.

By the end, you’ll enjoy the dish you’ve prepared, connecting with local culinary tradition while spending a few hours learning, cooking and tasting in an interactive setting.

Head towards mountain trails around the area for a guided trekking experience. Routes vary in length and difficulty, letting you choose paths that suit your fitness and interest. Along the way, you’ll move through forests, hills and open landscapes while observing local wildlife and plant life. Guides explain features of the terrain and point out signs of animals or plants unique to the region. Pauses along the route allow you to rest, take photos and absorb the surroundings.

The experience gives you an active day outdoors, combining exercise, observation and engagement with the natural environment rather than just sightseeing from a distance.