La Bocca del Dragone (The Dragon's Mouth)

The Bocca del Dragone is the most important point of the Piana of the same name and is only a few hundred metres from the town of Volturara Irpina.

This point is sure to fascinate every visitor, both for the interesting legends that make this place a particularly fascinating place and for the exceptionality of its natural features.

We find ourselves, in fact, on the slopes of Monte Terminio, thus close to the Monti Picentini, the most important drainage basin in southern Italy. A plateau, probably of karstic origin, it extends for no less than 1,100 hectares, lies at an altitude of about 600 metres and is completely surrounded by mountains.

From a geological point of view, the Bocca del Dragone is a natural swallow hole of considerable size, which was opened following the earthquake of 1456. In its interior, the waters of the springs and the rain that the mountain slopes push down to the Piana flow together. During the winter, when the amount of water is copious, the water collects and floods part of the Piana, giving rise to what is erroneously referred to as the Dragon Lake.

The Bocca del Dragone can absorb 900 litres of water per second and is the starting point of a complex underground hydrographic network that, together with the Piana and the Bocca del Dragone itself, represents a Site of Community Interest (SCI) due to its importance.

During the summer, when the water level is particularly low, the Bocca del Dragone can be visited by descending inside it using some steps normally used for maintenance (to find out the days and times of the visit, we recommend contacting the Volturara Municipality). 

According to legend, when the Visigoths conquered Volturara Irpina, they subjugated the population to their power with the help of a three-headed Dragon with only one eye. In addition to terrorising the population, the dragon guarded the wealth accumulated by the Visigoths inside a cave. To feed it, the Visigoths periodically brought two boys from Volturara Irpinia and two calves to the doors of the treasure cave.

Terror raged through the village until, one day, Gesio, a mysterious man who had come to Volturara from the north, came across a girl in despair because of the presence of the terrible dragon and the Visigoths. Since he himself said he had already experienced the cruelty of the Visigoths at first hand, he went off brandishing his sword, hankering for revenge and vengeance.

The next day, Gesio freed two chained young Vultureans, as they were about to be led by the Visigoths before the Dragon, and subsequently entered the cave where the Dragon lived. After an epic battle, despite being bitten by the three-headed dragon, he managed to kill it by plunging his sword into its heart. 

The dragon was dead. The points where the dragon's three heads crashed created three deep chasms and, after a few moments, the beast's body vanished into thin air.  To this day, therefore, to recall the legendary events of Gesio and the dragon, the cave is called 'The Dragon's Mouth'.