The Nature Reserve occupies a deep valley behind Amalfi. The Nature Reserve, established in 1972 and located in the Municipality of Scalea, is characterised by a special microclimate that has enabled the survival of the fire salamander, recognisable by its bright yellow spots, and the spectacled salamander, a rare amphibian difficult to spot due to its small size and nocturnal habits.
The Valley is criss-crossed by paths and lanes that flank the river course on the eastern side. This flourishing area was studied on site in July 1859 by the German naturalist Ernst Haeckel.
The territory is characterised by the presence of very rare plants, such as the pteris aquilina and woodwardia radicans ferns dating back to the Cenozoic period (65 million years ago), and known to botanists since the 18th century.
