Morigerati

The WWF oasis of Morigerati, created in 1995,  is 3,000 acres.  There is a stone path which leads to the grotto and it is about 800 meters long.  Along the path you can watch the typical Mediterranean bush: oak, ilex, olive, ash.  In spring, there is the red valerian all over the oasis.

The Town of Morigerati

Above the Oasis, the ancient hill town of Morigerati is the pristine remote mountain village.   The town with its old church dominating the landscape provides the perfect wedding or vow renewal location.

The Sanctuary of San Miguele

In the cliffs overlooking Morigerati, there is the Sanctuary di San Miguele using some mystical anti-gravitational force to cling somehow to the mountain side.  The Sanctuary can only be reached via a four or five kilometer rocky mountain path shared with goats and cattle.   For the hardy and the true romantics its a wedding spot just that bit nearer to God & Nature.  Stiletto heels are not recommended.

Although the hike is tough for the average person, the Sanctuary's candles are kept lighted every day by an old lady in black whose age must approximate to that of the Sanctuary itself.

The Grotto

The Oasis was chiseled by the river Bussento.  It begins to flow on the mountain Cervati and it is 37 km. long.  The river flows underground for 5 km. (more or less) and it rises again in the grotto of Morigerati.  For its length it is the second carsic phenomenon in Europe.  The grotto has been created by the river water and it is made by calcareous rock.  In the cave, there is a fossil path (70 – 80 meters long) through which you can go inside the mountain to watch stalactites and stalagmites.

The Mill

In the oasis, there is an old mill (now restored) that was built in the XVII century and has worked till 1960.  It is powered by the water of a source (50 litres per second).  The water makes the wooden wheel turn.  This is tied with the two horizontal millstones.  This water mill can grind corn, grain and barley.

In the oasis, there are two rivers:  the Bussento and another little one called “lumi ri Coppa”.  The  Coppa meets the Bussento after 300 meters with a little waterfall.  You can touch the water of the Bussento soon after the grotto, and here you can see a particular kind of moss.  This moss is only found in the south of Italy.

Animals

The watched over animal of the oasis is the otter. Other animals  are:  fox, stone-marten, dormouse, hedgehog, and birds of prey (imperial raven, goshawk, kestrel and kite).