Rifugio Papaleo
The place
Rifugio Papaleo in the Parco Nazionale dell'Aspromonte, Delianuova/San Luca sector (Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy), at 547 m elevation, southern slope of the Aspromonte's 1955 m Montalto. Continuous southern Italy cluster (batches 260-348). CAI Reggio Calabria refuge ("Papaleo" a typical Calabrian surname), an area of Aspromonte beech forest (Fagus sylvatica, Atlantic pre-glacial relicts + Corylus avellana + Quercus ilex holm oak + Erica arborea Mediterranean heather, a unique combination) and Aspromonte (national park, 65,000 ha, 1989 + heritage of the ancient Albanian Arbëreshë community of Calabria, 100,000 people, Arbërisht Albanian language, Scutari origin, 15th century, Skanderbeg's resistance to the Ottomans 1400-1478, refuge in Calabria + Calabrian 'ndrangheta, family-clan extraction local to San Luca stronghold, 1500 deaths in the intra-clan feud 1985-1991).
The setting
PN Aspromonte Delianuova/San Luca Calabria Reggio Italy 547 m Aspromonte 1955 m Montalto, continuous cluster batches 260-348, CAI Reggio Calabria Papaleo Calabrian surname, beech forest Fagus Atlantic pre-glacial relicts + Corylus/Quercus ilex/Erica arborea unique combination, NP 65,000 ha 1989 + Arbëreshë 100,000 Arbërisht 15th c. Skanderbeg resistance to Ottomans 1400-1478 refuge in Calabria + 'ndrangheta San Luca 1500 deaths 1985-1991 clan.
