For the next day of our weekend in Campania we planned two Cilento easy hikes i.e. Grotte del Bussento in Morigerati and Capelli di Venere waterfalls in Cilento. Since both places are close, they are ideal for if you’re planning day trips in Campania.
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Morigerati Oasis and Grotte del Bussento: A Shady Canyon Walk in Cilento
WWF Oasi Morigerati occupies 600 hectares spread around the canyon of the Bussento River. The cave (Grotte del Bussento) and an old mill are two main attractions there, but for me the attraction was lush greenery.
The place is great if you’re into outdoor activities in Campania and a bit of ‘smoothed’ nature. Smoothed because the Grotte del Bussento hike is a kind of easy, tourist-friendly walk, and that’s why you have to pay an entrance fee (adults 6 euros).
Grotte del Bussento Morigerati: How to Get There, Parking, and Tickets
To get to the oasis, use the GPS; enter ‘Morigerati’ – the town or Grotte del Bussento Morigerati. You can park in the center and walk down the road for a short distance (there’s a sign indicating directions), but you can also drive to the ticket office and park a little down, near goats.
There is a small farm with chickens and goats behind a fence. It turned out that the smiling goats preferred my rusks to their leaves. And they really smile when they want you to give them more rusks. And they consumed all my snacks.
The ticket office is located in a building with a sign ‘Biglietteria’ on the wall. With tickets, we were given a copy of the hand-drawn map. After leaving, we turned left and reached a wooden gate ( seeing smilling goats again); that’s where the Grotte del Bussento Morigerati trail begins.
The Trail Down to Grotte del Bussento
The path to the canyon is 800 m long, mostly stone stairs leading down 130 m. At the bottom of the steps, we came across two signs: grotto / mulino.
First, we went to the cave; apperantely bored guide waiting outside for visitors was very happy to see us. After being told some facts about the cave, we entered by descending stone steps.
The high walls of the cave are connected by a wooden bridge, or rather a footbridge, and I really don’t trust any Italian hanging structure. That’s because in Italy, some hanging structures have fallen/collapsed.
Standing on the bridge then, I took the opportunity to panic a bit.
Under my feet, there was a several-hundred-meter Bussento river gorge.
Admiring the cave, I walked around taking pictures and regretting that the water level was so low. There are over one thousand caves in Campania, and Bussento is not the most beautiful one, but even so I can imagine how impressive this masterwork of nature must look when it is full of water.
Bussento Valley and the old Greek mill
From the cave, we descended (slightly hilly) into the Bussento Valley. It’s a picturesque place with lush greenery: mosses, ferns, ivy parasitizing the trees, and other such green pests coiling around the trunks. They are pests, yes, but unfortunately they also create a very nice environment by twining around trees and hanging here and there.
The river is home to trout, crayfish, and freshwater crabs. We were lucky to spot a few of its tiny inhabitants.
Enjoying the surrounding vegetation, we reached an old stone mill built by the Greeks centuries ago.
Also there, an equally enthusiastic guide told us about the history of the building. Their enthusiasm gave me the impression that the oasis was one of the places beyond the usual tourist spots in Italy. If it were crowded, the guides would be spouting formulas rather than being passionate about what they were saying. But I may be wrong.
Inside, the mill is like other ancient water mills. However, viewed from the riverbank, surrounded by greenery, the stone mill spewing water into the river is truly picturesque.
A few dozen meters beyond the mill, at the end of the river, there’s a place where you can step into the cold water. Of course we did it.
It was warm, so our feet appreciated it. And then we climbed up, because the entrance gate to the oasis is also its exit. The next spot to visit was a waterfall.
Is the Morigerati Gorge Hike Worth It?
Yes, it is. It’s an easy path which really doesn’t require any super stamina or so. If you don’t feel like walking too much (though you still have to), or if you want to burn off some calories after a big Sunday lunch, this route is perfect. You do have to walk down and then back up, but it’s not a mountain trail where you’ll end up holding up a line of hikers. Plus, it’s lush and green, the birds are singing, and the river rushes creating small waterfalls. Peace, quiet, and greenery—for me, it’s the perfect combination.
Practical information for visiting WWF Oasi Morigerati
- The route is easy, maybe just with two a bit steep sections, so you can walk it in comfortable covered shoes, not necessarily the trekking ones.
- However, I always wear them if I plan to go even on an easy hike.
- The oasis is open all year round, except on rainy days.
- From autumn to spring, from 10:00 to 16:00; in summer, from 10:00 to 18:00.
- In winter, you have to contact and book a walk.
- There are fountains with drinkable water on the route.
- This short canyon walk is full of shade, which is nice and not so obvious in Campania.
If this post made you laugh, annoyed you, or just reminded you of your own trip, tell me in the comments or drop me an email. I actually want to hear about your experiences—the good and the frustrating.
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