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The Way of St. Benedict

· 1 review · Long-Distance Hiking · Valnerina-Cascia

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/ Piazza San Benedetto (Platz des Hl. Benedikt)
Photo: Hans Peter Schaefer, http://www.reserv-a-rt.de, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
/ Basilika San Benedetto, eingestürzt am 30. Oktober 2016 (Aufnahme von 2006)
Photo: Silvio sorcini, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
/ Poggio Bustone
Photo: Lbreda, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
/ Blick über die Altstadt zur Kirche San Francesco
Photo: mac, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
/ Ufer des Velino
Photo: Alessandro Antonelli, CC BY, Wikimedia Commons
/ Kathedrale Santa Maria
Photo: mac, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
/ Subiaco, Kloster San Benedetto
Photo: CC0, Wikimedia Commons
/ Subiaco, Burg der Äbte
Photo: CC0, Wikimedia Commons
/ Kloster Montecassino
Photo: Ra Boe, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

Marco Casini
on the April 18, 2022

Ma come si scaricano le tappe del cammino di san Benedetto?

All questions

The Benedict path leads from Norcia, the birthplace of the saint, through Umbria and Latium via Subiaco to the mother monastery of the Benedictines: Montecassino.

difficult

Distance 301.5 km

95:00 h

7,749 m

7,861 m

1,516 m

113 m

The Way of St. Benedict follows the life and work of Saint Benedict in Italy. From his place of birth in Norcia he went via Umbria and Lazio to Subiaco, where he stayed for 30 years and became the founding father of western monasticism. With Montecassino the route has the historical and cultural center of the Benedictines as its destination. This is where Saint Benedict spent the last years of his life and established the Benedictine teaching.

On the way through the varied landscape of Umbria and Lazio, not only churches, monasteries and crosses are passed, but also medieval castles, pre-Christian cantilever arches and Roman bridges and roads are on the way. In addition to Benedict, the path also crosses sites from the lives of other saints such as Francis of Assisi and Thomas Aquinas.

The landscape on the approximately 300 km long path is characterized by densely forested mountains, river valleys and green fields, wide valleys and lakes and there are always medieval villages along the way. Even if sections of the path unfortunately lead over asphalt stretches or roads with little traffic, lonely and remote landscapes of Italy are hiked through and the rich and varied nature is experienced.

Author’s recommendation

A longer stay is worthwhile in the beautiful, medieval towns. Especially Norcia, Subiaco and Montecassino are worth seeing for pilgrims.

Author

Wiebke Hillen

Update: October 14, 2020

Difficulty

difficult

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Highest point

1,516 m

Lowest point

113 m

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Tips and hints

The homepage of the trail: www.camminodibenedetto.it

The symbol of the pilgrimage is a Benedictine cross: a yellow monogram consisting of a small "b", the vertical line of which turns into a cross

Start

Norcia (610 m)

Coordinates:

42.792318, 13.093084

DMS

42°47'32.3"N 13°05'35.1"E

UTM

33T 344045 4739515

w3w

///editing.treadmills.lurching

Destination

Montecassino

Turn-by-turn directions

The Way of Benedict is usually divided into 16 stages. Depending on your condition, these can of course be varied.

1st stage: Norcia - Cascia approx. 18 km

2nd stage: Cascia - Monteleone di Spoleto approx. 18 km

3rd stage: Monteleone di Spoleto - Leonessa approx. 13 km

4th stage: Leonessa - Poggio Bustone approx. 14 km

5th stage: Poggio Bustone - Rieti approx. 17 km

The first five stages of our way lead us from the basilica in Norcia, the birthplace of Benedict at the foot of the Sibylline Mountains, through a species-rich flora and fauna. Passing medieval villages such as Cascia and Monteleone di Spoleto in the middle of the green low mountain range, we continue through beech forests. Poggio Bustone, the beautiful mountain village, invites you to linger and we enjoy a wonderful view over the Rieti valley.

6th stage: Rieti - Rocca Sinibalda approx. 20 km

7th stage: Rocca Sinibalda - Castel di Tora approx 15 km

8th stage: Castel di Tora - Orvinio approx. 14 km

9th stage: Orvinio - Mandela approx. 20 km

10th stage: Mandela - Subiaco approx. 33 km

In the middle part of our route we pass the 11th century castle in Rocca Sinibalda, walk along the shores of Lake Turano and pass dense forests and mountain villages in the nature reserve. On the way to Orvinio we go through green pastures, then we enjoy the unique peace and quiet of the mountain region. In our stage destination Subiaco, we marvel at the monastery of San Benedetto built on the rock face and also see the oldest monastery, Santa Scolastica, founded by Benedict, with one of the most beautiful bell towers in Italy.

11th stage: Subiaco - Trevi nel Lazio approx. 18 km

12th stage: Trevi nel Lazio - Collepardo approx. 24 km

13th stage: Collepardo - Casamari approx. 25 km

14th stage: Casamari - Arpino approx. 16 km

15th stage: Arpino - Roccasecca approx. 18 km

16th stage: Roccasecca - Montecassino approx. 19 km

The final spurt begins wonderfully along the Aniene River and we reach Trevi nel Lazio, at the foot of the Simbruini Mountains. We walk through dense forest into the medieval Collepardo and admire the Cistercian Abbey of Casamari as an example of Italian Gothic style. In Isola del Liri we take a break at the Liri waterfall and reach the mountain village of Arpino. We continue through a wild and romantic gorge to Roccasecca and then we reach the impressive Montecassino Abbey above the town of Cassino, the mother monastery of the Benedictines.

Note

all notes on protected areas

Public transport

Take the train to Spoleto and then bus to Norcia

Getting there

Coming from Perugia follow the SS75 and SS3 to Cortaccione and then take the SS685 to Cerreto di Spoleto. Now follow the SR320 and again the SS685 to Norcia.

Parking

Before starting your journey, find out about parking in Norcia.

Coordinates

42.792318, 13.093084

DMS

42°47'32.3"N 13°05'35.1"E

UTM

33T 344045 4739515

w3w

///editing.treadmills.lurching

Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Equipment

Trekking backpack (approx. 50 liters) with rain cover, sturdy and comfortable shoes, if necessary change shoes / sandals, weather-appropriate and hard-wearing clothing based on the multi-layer principle, change of clothing, telescopic sticks, sun and rain protection, provisions and drinking water, first aid kit, pocket knife , Mobile phone, headlamp, maps, travel documents and pilgrim ID, toilet bag and travel towel, hand washing detergent and clothesline, camping equipment (tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, cooking equipment) if necessary, hut equipment if necessary

The Most Beautiful long-distance hikes in Valnerina-Cascia

Italy › Umbria › Frosinone › Sambuci

Questions and answers

Question from Marco Casini · April 18, 2022 · Community

Answered by stefan krauskopf · April 23, 2022 · Community

Answer

Question from Heinrich Huber · April 10, 2022 · Community

Answer

Question from Bernd Traud · December 26, 2019 · Community

Answered by Wiebke Hillen · January 07, 2020 · Outdooractive Editors

1 more reply

Rating

5.0

(1)

stefan krauskopf

September 01, 2020 · Community

Comment

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Reviews

Difficulty

difficult

Distance

301.5 km

Duration

95:00 h

Ascent

7,749 m

Descent

7,861 m

Highest point

1,516 m

Lowest point

113 m

Multi-stage route Scenic Refreshment stops available Linear route Cultural/historical interest

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Waypoints

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