It is difficult to describe the charm emanated by the area of the former Constantino Lake to those who have not experienced it firsthand! It may be because it is one of the most primordial and wild areas of the Aspromonte, extremely inaccessible, with neither roads nor mule tracks and with an almost total absence of human, in which the river bed of the Fiumara Bonamico is practically the only access and where a grandiose nature reigns supreme and undisturbed. Or it will be the idea of being witnesses to geomorphological processes of a recent past and such strength to cause the birth, life and death of a lake. And still, the suggestion of the place allows us, closing our eyes, to almost have the surface of the smooth, emerald water mirror in front of us. And then, since it was an ephemeral lake and the geological fragility of the territory undoubtedly persists, there isn’t written anywhere that the slope cannot collapse again, that the landslide cannot block the valley again and that there could be another Costantino Lake with an area of 320.000 m2 and a volume of 5 million m3 of water. Just close your eyes and dream!
The former Constantin Lake can be reached from San Luca along the riverbed of the Fiumara Bonamico and therefore enjoying the sensation of following the water route upstream making some fords which may also require taking off your boots. For the way back we will follow a trail halfway up the mountain sloap which will amaze us with beautiful views of the fiumara. On returning to San Luca, there is always time for a visit to the birthplace of the writer Corrado Alvaro and a coffee with a chat at the bar. (Hiking time: about 4.5 hours, elevation gain: about 300 m)
Starting from Polsi, on the other hand, you reach the former lake passing through the Mancusa wood, the most beautiful old holm oak wood in the whole Aspromonte massif. In this fairytale setting we will find mylonites and the typical marbles of the Polsi Unit. After the descent to the torrent which offers beautiful views over the Bonamico valley, the last part oft he hike is inside the dry riverbed. On our return we cannot miss a visit to the spiritual center of the Aspromonte, the Sanctuary of Polsi. (Hiking time: about 6.5 hours, elevation gain: about 500 m)
