Thursday 13 June 2024 – The International Union of Geological Sciences will include the gullies of Montalbano Jonico and its territory in the list of the most important geosites in the world in 2025. A result made possible thanks to the recognition of the ideal section that emerges in the gullies as an auxiliary standard of the type section of the Middle Lower Pleistocene of approximately 773 thousand years ago.
This is what emerged in the presidential hall of the Province of Matera which hosted the press conference to present the second edition of “Experience Montalbano”, the initiative of the Aigae hiking guides of the Ionian city scheduled for Sunday 16 June, starting from 9.00 amwhich will give participants the opportunity to go on excursions, guided tours and other events to experience the area, including nature, history, art, music and food and wine specialties.
Doing the honors will be the President of the Province of Matera, Piero Marresewho recalled how “the objective of the initiative is to create employment in the tourism sector and its related activities, as well as networking with the surrounding communities and making our territory known.
The prestigious recognition that our site has had, combined with the inclusion in the list of IUGS sites, make the gullies of Montalbano Jonico a highly prestigious heritage worth valorising. This, however, is only the main initiative: there will be many others and I want to thank the Aigae hiking guides for the important work they do every day in enhancing the territory”.
Prof. Marrese was present in the presidential room with Marrese. Salvatore Gallicchioof the University of Bari, Portia LombardiAigae hiking guide, e Francesca Giannitelliof the l’Arcobaleno coop.
Gallicchio announced that for the Montalbano Jonico site “a very important scientific result for the gullies of our city is official. The ideal section that emerges in the gullies of Montalbano Jonico was nominated by the international commission of Quaternary stratigraphy as an auxiliary standard of the type section of the lower middle Pleistocene of approximately 773 thousand years ago.
In practice we are a section equivalent to the so-called golden nail which is found in the Mediterranean area where it is located. The recognition will have important repercussions for the Montalbano Jonico area which will soon become part of a UNESCO network which includes geological sites of international interest considered a world heritage site”.
Lombardi recalled that the objective is “to proclaim Montalbano Jonico as an integral part of the Metapontino brand and to showcase the beauties of our territory, from the regional reserve of the gullies to the historic centre, passing through culture, music and food and wine”.
Finally, Giannitelli recalled that “the L’Arcobaleno coop has now been active for 25 years in socio-educational services, residential reception, support for people with disabilities and in the reception of women victims of violence, but in this case intends to enhance the territory and does so by collaborating with local associations also with annual initiatives”.
This is the program for the day:
9.30 am, meeting at the Vassallo viewpoint;
9.45 am excursion in the gullies reserve, led by professors Gallicchio, Girone and Maiorano of the University of Bari and by the Aigae guides of Montalbano Jonico
12.30 pm end of excursion
1.00 pm the restaurants will let you taste their typical dishes (lunch paid by the participant)
4.00 pm meeting in Corso Carlo Alberto near the clock arch for the guided tour of the historic center of Montalbano Jonico.
For info and reservations: 333 271755
