The "Angel Flight"

Since I discovered it, I always wanted to try this exciting experience and I must say that reality has surpassed my imagination, especially because of the environment in which you immerse yourself: it’s absolutely stunning. The Dolomites of Lucania offer superb scenery of rock formations with the most unusual shapes, lush valleys and villages literally cling on the mountains. The area is a ZSC, a special conservation area for its flora and fauna varieties, such as the black stork, a very rare species that lives and breeds in these mountains.

The Angel Flight is realized specifically to live the landscape in a different way, definitely engaging and exciting. The one in Basilicata is among the highest (starting from 1.000 meters) and longest (about 1.5 km) cable routes at an international level and this attracts many people, during the season when you can do it (from May to October) you have to book early or you might not find a space.

The flight consists of two separate sections, one section from the village of Pietrapertosa and the other from Castelmezzano and you can start either from one side or the other, anyway the path is circular thanks to a shuttle service that takes back to the starting point.

I started off in Pietrapertosa, a small village nestled between the walls of a mountain, with an original charm. It is no coincidence that it’s part of the Club "Most beautiful villages in Italy". An authentic timeless place, where you can discover the slow pace of mountain lifestyle, chat with sociable local people and taste the Lucania’s specialties. The village has also some impressive sights as the ancient castle of Roman origins, the convent of St. Francis, founded by Pope Sisto IV in the '400, and the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. It is really worth spending a weekend in this area, full of paths and nature trails such as the Seven Stones Path and the hiking trail (via ferrata) recently inaugurated, the only one in the Region.

The flight section from Pietrapertosa is more scenic, with a spectacular view of the valley and the village of Castelmezzano. The other way back section, on the other hand, is more exciting with a ravine that appears after few meters, making you feel the thrill of the height. The crossing takes about a minute and gives plenty of time to live to the fullest this experience.

The Angel Flight can be done in pairs or alone but I recommend to do it in solitude, an experience that makes you experience the real magic of flying like a bird, to soar in absolute silence slipping between wind and heartbeats. An emotion which is difficult to put into words, but which certainly gives unforgettable moments.

You can book at www.volodellangelo.com, where you will find lots of information to organize your experience in the best possible way.