Waterfalls, Gorges and Caves
In the Acquasanta territory, there is a strong presence of gorges and caves that wind for over 2km, spreading across different districts such as Umito, Pozza, Vallecchia, and Matera. This corner of the Laga Mountains was semi-unknown until a few years ago, while today, thanks in part to a speleological association present in the area (Asa Speleo Club), it has successfully become famous and well-visited.
The different routes are recommended for experienced hikers, considering the dangerous nature of some points and the presence of ropes and cables. Another peculiarity of the Laga Mountains is the numerous waterfalls, created by the particular type of rock present, which doesn’t allow water to penetrate and thus forces it to flow away. Don’t expect to find mighty waterfalls in this area, given the low water flow of the rivers, but you will certainly find waterways at very high altitudes, with flows directly linked to the number and quantity of rainfall during the period.
The Prata Waterfalls, formed by the river of the same name, can be reached starting from the characteristic village of Umito. Once you arrive here, simply park your car and walk to the main square, at the end of which you’ll find the start of the trail that will immerse you directly in nature and the cool undergrowth. The trail is simple and clean, and features numerous signs indicating the remaining distance and time to reach the waterfalls. These waterfalls can also be reached by following the signs to the Volpara Waterfalls, as they share a short section of the trail, where at a certain point, you’ll find the sign for the Prata Waterfalls, and you’ll only need to make a slight detour.
The Volpara Waterfalls are instead a series of very high slides that come directly from the Macera della Morte; the spectacle is often impressive but always depends on the flow of the Volpara Stream. Once you arrive in Umito, leave your car and continue on foot. Following the signs and walking alongside the “La Laga Nord” Agritourism, continue towards the Mountain Stream and a forest of enormous chestnut trees, which leads to a concrete bridge, beyond which the road is closed to traffic. Without crossing the bridge, continue on the small road that climbs among tall chestnut trees and then descends to cross the Prata Stream, to the left of which are high sandstone walls. From here, turning left onto a sometimes slippery path, continue climbing through a trail that ends next to a small shelter and a spring. From here, you’ll walk through a beech forest, crossing various streams. Ferns, flowers, and moss-covered rocks make this section particularly evocative. After passing a cave with the remains of a masonry oven, you’ll descend towards a ruin in a meadow, after which you’ll reach a secondary stream that forms a small waterfall upstream, approaching the Volpara Stream that flows over large sandstone slabs. Exercise great caution, as the slabs are slippery, and falling into the river is not always pleasant. A final climb leads to a view of the amphitheater dominated by the Macera della Morte. The Volpara Waterfalls descend from the steep valley on the right. Continue on terrain made complex by avalanche traces, where care must be taken to follow the correct path. From the ledge where the waterfalls appear, cross a couple of streams and reach an uphill mule track. Without taking it, turn right until you reach the base of the first waterfall. Following another visible path, it’s possible to reach the plateau between the first two drops.
