Riserva Statale Valle delle Ferriere, State nature reserve in Province of Salerno, Italy.
Riserva Statale Valle delle Ferriere is a state nature reserve in the Lattari Mountains with steep ravines, cascading water, and fast-moving streams throughout. The reserve covers roughly 455 hectares and sits within the broader Lattari Mountains Nature Park.
The area gained official protection status in 1972 to preserve ancient iron processing sites. Workers once used iron imported from Elba Island to manufacture nails in these valley workshops.
Water mills once operated throughout the valley for papermaking, a craft that defined the area for centuries. One mill now houses a museum where visitors can see how paper was made by hand.
The reserve is accessible via marked hiking trails starting from Amalfi or Scala, with regular bus connections from Salerno serving these access points. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as the paths are steep and can be uneven in places.
The reserve shelters woodwardia radicans, an ancient tree fern from the Cenozoic era that thrives near flowing water. This rare species has survived for millions of years and is seldom found elsewhere in Europe.
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