Civita tour with Raganello gorges and birds of prey: Calabria

Walk through an Arbresche village, then stand face-to-face with golden eagles

A full-day tour of Civita, an Arbresche village in Calabria, combines history and nature across the Pollino park. You'll hike to the Devil's Bridge in Raganello gorges, climb to mountain viewpoints, and finish at a raptor center where you meet eagles and griffons in person. Lunch is included. The tour runs with a live guide in English or Italian.

The experience

If you have a free day in Calabria and want to move beyond the coast, this tour anchors itself in Civita, a small village that has kept its Arbresche heritage intact. The day opens with a guide walking you through the village itself, explaining the history and traditions of the Arbresche people: an ethnic and cultural minority whose roots run deep in southern Italy. From there, the route heads into the Pollino park, following old brigand paths that lead you toward the Raganello gorges and the Devil's Bridge, a natural stone arch that has stood over the water for centuries.

The middle of the day takes you higher into the mountains to panoramic points where the landscape opens up across the park. You'll stop at the Carnarium of the Griffons, a site where griffons and other raptors gather, before heading to the Setteventi Center: a raptor facility where the real centerpiece waits. After lunch, you stand a few feet from golden eagles, griffons and other birds of prey in controlled conditions. The guide narrates what you're watching, but the moment itself is direct: you're looking at the birds, and they're there in front of you.

What’s included

• Lunch.
• a live guide in English or Italian.
• access to Civita village, the Raganello gorges and Devil's Bridge, the mountain viewpoints, and the Setteventi raptor center.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 to 70 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Setteventi del Pollino

Is this one for you?This is a shared tour with a guide leading a group, so the pace and stops are set in advance. It suits travelers who want the history and nature of the region explained rather than explored on their own, and who want the raptor encounter to be the centerpiece of the day rather than an add-on.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What is the Arbresche heritage I'll learn about in Civita?

The Arbresche are an ethnic minority in southern Italy with their own language, customs and history. Civita is one of the villages where this heritage has survived into the present day, and the guide walks you through the village explaining how the traditions and way of life have been preserved.

How difficult is the hiking on this tour?

The tour involves moderate physical activity. You'll walk the brigand paths through the Pollino park and climb to mountain viewpoints, but the pace is set by the guide and the group stays together. Families with children and travelers with moderate fitness can manage the day.

What happens at the raptor center?

At the Setteventi Center, you meet golden eagles, griffons and other birds of prey in a controlled setting where they are kept and studied. You stand close enough to see the birds clearly while the guide explains their behavior and ecology.

Is the Devil's Bridge a major hike to reach?

The Devil's Bridge sits in the Raganello gorges and is part of the day's route through the park. The guide leads you along established paths to see it. It's not a separate expedition but one stop among several on the mountain itinerary.