The Tanagro River (also called the Negro) flows through the Sele valley below Contursi, and the riverside paths and fields here make for easy, pleasant walking in a landscape of poplars, reed beds, and cultivated terraces. The valley bottom is noticeably flat and green — a result of the river's gentle gradient and the rich alluvial soil — and the contrast with the dry limestone hills above is striking.
This is also a good area for birdwatching: kingfishers, herons, and various warblers use the river corridor, and the reed beds attract migrants in spring and autumn. You do not need to go far from Contursi to reach open countryside — the urban fringe is thin.