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# 70 • OCTOBER 19 , 2015
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ITALIAN GARDENS:
Gallipoli Cognato Park
By www.italianbotanicalheritage.com
The Gallipoli Cognato
Lucanian Dolomites Park
covers 27,027 hectares
(66,785 acres) in the municipalities of Accettura,
Calciano, Oliveto Lucano
in the province of Matera,
and Castelmezzano and
Pietrapertosa in the province of Potenza. The Park
encloses and protects a
large area in the center of
Basilicata that has important natural, historical and
ethno-anthropological va-
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lues. There is also a rich
presence of watercourses • The Small Lucanian Doin the form of seasonal lomites, whose highest
peak Mount Impiso reastreams and springs.
ches 1,319 meters (0.86
The Park is a precious tre- miles), and its bizarre proasure chest of biodiversity files sculpt the suggestive
for the richness of species landscape of Castelmezsometimes unique both in zano and Pietrapertosa.
terms of flora and fauna.
The elements of interest • The Caperrino Mounthat characterize the park tain (1,400 meters, o.87
miles), which is the most
are:
harmonic backbone of the
• The Forest of Gallipoli mountain range.
Cognato that covers over
4,200 hectares (10,378 • The Montepiano Forest,
acres), a large green spot which consists of majestic
formed by various spe- and secular pieces of oak,
cies of trees and shrubs maple and also prospeamong which there are rous hornbeam and holly
tall oaks (Quercus cerris), used during the celebrawhich in higher areas rea- tion of May
ch enormous dimensions.
Other secondary species • The Archaeological site
are hornbeam (Carpinus of Monte Croccia, with the
betulus), maples and car- remains of the fortification
pinelle (Ostrya carpinifo- work of the city built in the
lia).
fourth century BC