Guardiaregia-Campochiaro WWF Oasis: The Quirino Canyon and the Hundred-Meter Waterfall

There are places in Italy where nature has done things that are hard to believe without seeing them. The Guardiaregia-Campochiaro WWF Oasis, 3,135 hectares in the heart of the Molisan Matese, is one of these. Established in 1996 and recognized as a Regional Reserve in 2010, it's Italy's second-largest WWF oasis — yet almost no one outside Molise knows it exists.

The Quirino canyon and the San Nicola waterfall

The heart of the oasis is the gorge of Torrente Quirino: a karst canyon carved into the Matese limestone, with vertical walls dozens of meters high that narrow to just a few meters across. Walking the trail that descends into the gorge — equipped but demanding — is an almost claustrophobic experience in the best sense: lush vegetation, the sound of water bouncing off rocks, light penetrating from above in patches. The San Nicola waterfall, in the upper part of the gorge, reaches one hundred meters in height: a vertical plunge that in wet seasons is spectacular, while in July and August it may run dry — best to plan a visit in spring or autumn.

Abysses and caves among Europe's deepest

Beneath the Matese's limestone surface open the Pozzo della Neve and Cul di Bove: karst abysses among the deepest in Europe, explored by speleologists but inaccessible to the general public. The karst landscape on the surface manifests in sinkholes, swallow holes, and dry meadows alternating with beech and holm oak forests.

Wildlife and how to visit

The oasis is home to the Apennine wolf, wildcat, badger, red squirrel, roe deer, and wild boar. Guided visits are booked through the oasis wardens, who organize regular excursions from April to October. The main trail entrance is from Guardiaregia, about 40 kilometers from Campobasso. Bring hiking boots, plenty of water, and a few extra hours: the landscape invites you to linger far longer than planned.