Pecorone
The Story of Pecorone Railway Station
If you are passionate about railway history, you might be interested in learning about the story of Pecorone railway station. Until the end of the 1970s, this station was called Bivio Latronico, but previously it was known as Bivio Seluci. It is located along the old narrow-gauge railway line Ferrovia Lagonegro-Castrovillari-Spezzano Albanese of the Ferrovie Calabro Lucane.
The Closure of the Station
Pecorone station fell into disuse in the early 1970s due to a structural failure of the Serra viaduct, between Lagonegro and Rivello, which caused a gradual decline in passenger traffic. This led to the replacement of the train transport service with that offered by a bus line on August 1, 1973, also for the railway section between Rivello and Bivio Latronico. This station was then definitively closed on January 20, 1979.
The Cycle Path and the Transformation of the Station
Along the disused stretch that leads from Pecorone to the old station of Lauria, a cycle path of about 3 km has been established. The old station, instead, has been transformed into a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Fátima. This transformation has allowed the recovery of an important historical and cultural heritage, which preserves the memory of Pecorone station and the railway that crossed it.
The Location of Pecorone
Pecorone is a fraction of the municipality of Lauria in the province of Potenza, with a population of about 280 inhabitants. It is located at an altitude of 778 m above sea level and is about 3.68 km from the municipal capital, which can be reached via the Provincial Road former State Road 19 of Calabria. Furthermore, Pecorone is located near the Lauria Nord junction of the A3 Motorway Naples-Reggio Calabria.
What to Visit in Pecorone
If you are planning a visit to Pecorone, make sure to include the old Bivio Latronico station in your list of things to see. Not only does it testify to a bygone railway era, but also to a renewed attention to the preservation of cultural and historical heritage. Furthermore, in the surroundings of Pecorone, you cannot miss the view of Lake Sirino, an important artificial basin that offers spectacular panoramas and many outdoor activities.
