The valley of the Pesipe River

From the Serre it descends toward the isthmus of Catanzaro.

It originates near the Fossa di Lupo pass and descends the narrow valley between Mount Covello (m 843) to the east and Mount Contessa (m 881) to the west. Then, after parading between the towns of Girifalco and Cortale, it bends sharply west and descends the isthmus of Catanzaro to the plain of Sant'Eufemia, where it adds its waters to those of the Amato River on its way to the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Wooded slopes and botanical rarities

The most interesting part from a naturalistic point of view is the mountainous part, characterized by mixed forests of oak and chestnut trees. The most peculiar aspect of this environment is given by certain rocky walls, defined as 'dripping', that is, constantly subjected to the dripping of water, the habitat of a rare giant fern, Woodwardia radicans, a subtropical Mediterranean species whose frayed leaves can reach a length of three meters.