The itinerary retraces the Olivella path, which climbs through the countryside of Sant'Anastasia and leads to the homonymous springs, which gush at 382 metres above sea level. The presence of spring water is a particularly rare event in the territory of the park; because of the permeable nature of the volcanic rocks, the precipitations reach directly the stratum, without originating any spring.

The recommended route starts from the centre of Sant'Anastasia and continues along a narrow road on the right side of the ancient church of Santa Maria la Nova, but it is also possible to take the Olivella road by accessing the alley that starts from Piazza S. Antonio and turning left at the first crossroads. Along the way you can see the religious signs that mark the Stations of the Cross.

You then continue to climb gently through typically rural landscapes dominated by vineyards and orchards. The undisputed sovereign of the area is the apricot which, thanks to the particular pedoclimatic conditions, is present on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius with more than 80 cultivars, many of which are endemic. Aromas, flavours and scents of great quality distinguish the most famous Vesuvius varieties of the crisommola, in the Neapolitan idiom (from the Greek crysus / golden and melon / fruit, i.e. “golden fruit”).

Continuing along the path, Mount Somma stands out more and more dominant in the background with its characteristic shape, strongly engraved by ridges and valleys, while the rural views leave room for modest appearances of the Maquis shrubland and other forms of spontaneous vegetation.

After over 1.5 km of walking you reach a junction, the itinerary proceeds to the right, where a bar marks the beginning of the dirt road that leads to the springs. After a few metres on the right side, you can see the lower spring. The entrance is made of volcanic and limestone arches, built in the nineteenth century by Ferdinand of Bourbon, who had the waters of Olivella conveyed into conduits that reached the Palace of Portici and the city of Naples.

Today there are small gates that block the access to protect the two historical springs. Proceeding along the path, you reach a suggestive natural amphitheatre, where there is a statue of St. Mary. A wall shows very clearly the layers of volcanic products, fall deposits alternate with pyroclastic flow deposits. Thanks to a humid microclimate, the surrounding vegetation is luxuriant and the chirping of the birds often accompanies the visitor. The wood is made of locust trees, downy oaks, ailanthus and butcher’s broom. In spring the area is also characterized by the flowering of the enchanting orchids Ophrys sphegodes and Cephalantera longifolia.

By virtue of the presence of water, so scarce in the rest of the park, Olivella hosts a rich fauna community, also made of several micro-mammals, including the cute wild mouse and the less common shrew, a small insectivore with an elongated snout. Among the nesting birds it’s worth mentioning the nightingale, the Sardinian warbler, which owes its name to a characteristic red ring around the eye, the common whitethroat, agile and fast even between the most intricate branches, and the small wren, which moves often on the ground looking for food. A short staircase goes up to the upper spring.
For the return, the route of the outward journey is resumed proceeding in the opposite direction.