The Pilgrimage Route 935 km 45 stages from Rome to South Italy and to Jerusalem

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1 1 Page 1 sur 5 The Pilgrimage Route 935 km 45 stages from Rome to South Italy and to Jerusalem A branch of the new long walk from Norway to South Italy and Jerusalem Project: Pilgrims Crossing Borders The walk will be performed from August 24 th to October 12 th Organization and participation by Alberto ALBERTI ro_albea@hotmail.com and Oreste POLITO Opolito@libero.it Luggage transportation available. ROME CASTELFORTE The route from Rome to Brindisi runs along the Via Appia Antica built by the Romans (IV Century b.c.) and called Regina Viarum. It is world famous and it belongs to history, e.g. writers from the Latin Horace to J.W. Goethe travelled and wrote about it. It is mentioned in the Bible as part of the travels of the Apostle Paul. The stretch from Rome to Castelforte is in the Region Latium. Very nice landscapes, great variety of environments: woods, mountains, agricultural and sheep raising fields, the banks of 4 lakes and shores of the sea. There are long stretches of Roman roads with original paving. Many villages along the way are older than Rome and are unchanged since Middle Ages. CASTELFORTE BENEVENTO This stretch is in the Region of Campania. Several towns and villages have historical importance are as they are on the ancient route connecting Neaples with Rome of strategic importance since many centuries before Christ. The great beauty of some historical locations attracts many visitors and film makers. This and the rich Mediterranean vegetation of this itinerary give an unforgettable experience to the pilgrims. BENEVENTO MONTE S. ANGELO Part of this stretch is in Campania, and the final part in Apulia. Very nice stretch of pilgrimage mainly on mountainous landscapes. Paths are solitary and of great beauty They cross several tratturi (sheeps tracks) and ancient historical villages. The splendid environment and several sites of great spiritual value lead the pilgrims to meditation and appreciation of the particular nature of the territory.. MONTE S. ANGELO BRINDISI and BRINDISI SANTA MARIA di LEUCA This stretch is in the Apulia Region, where many civilizations flourished with a long history, such as the Greek, the Roman, the Byzantine, the Lombard, the Arab, the Norman, the Spanish. You walk in very old surroundings: old buildings in the country, some belonging to the period of the Crusades, old towns, century old olive trees etc. in full contrast with modern touristic resorts. Walking on the shore line, the sea invites you to a swim.. There are many old buildings of Chevaliers Orders serving the Crusades, as well as several towers for defence against Saracens. Vineyards and olive groves everywhere with a typical Mediterranean vegetation. The beauty of the territory is a strong touristic attraction. All these walks are easy and well defined, except were otherwise defined Some changes are possible, since a revision will be carried out in the next months before the Grand Walk. ROMA CASTELFORTE 220 km 12 stages 24 th August 4 th Sept

2 2 Page 2 sur 5 Roma Castel Gandolfo: km 20.5 height 400 m, up 350 m, Original Roman Way, A beautiful lake Castel Gandolfo Velletri: km 20, h 280 m, up 250 m, down 350 m, easy. Thick chestnuts wood and the lovely village of Nemi and its famous lake Velletri Cori: km 21 h 250 m, up 80 m, down 200 m. Roman temples, and 2 churches with beautiful frescoes Cori Sermoneta: km 16 h 260 m, up 200 m, down 100 m. NINFA most beautiful garden in Europe. The Cistercian Abbey of Valvisciolo Sermoneta Bassiano: village Bassiano Sezze: km 10, h 570 m, up 450 m, down 180 m. Sacred Hermit Cave, medieval km 12 h 320 m, up 400 m, down 350 m, with 2000 years old walls Sezze Fossanova (Priverno): km 21.3, h 150 m, down 300 m. Cistercian Abbey of Fossanova (IX Century a. C.) Fossanova Terracina: km 22 h 20 m, up 350 m. down 380 m. A large temple (II Century b. C.) to Jove Anxur on the mountain over the town Terracina Fondi: km 22.5, h 8 m up 280 m, down 270 m, Demanding. A lake. The Benedictine Abbey of S.Magno with origins in the Vth Century a.c. Fondi Formia: km 23.2, h 20 m, up 130 m, down 110 m. A technical wonder of Roman times: a large underground cistern called Cisternone. A major monument is the Tomb of Cicero, a famous Roman Itri Castel Formia Minturno: km 17.3, h 140 m, up 150 m, down 60 m. Beautiful Basilica, ruins of Minturnae ancient town (III century b. C.) Minturno Castelforte (Suio): km 16, h 150 m, up 150. Well known Spa in Suio Terme CASTELFORTE (SUIO) BENEVENTO 106 km 6 stages. 5 th Sept 10 th Sept. Castelforte (Suio) Sessa Aurunca: Km 14, h 200 m, up 180 m. In this ancient town Mozart composed a symphony Sessa Aurunca Teano: theater Teano S. Angelo in Formis: agricultural km 13, h 200 m, up 50 m. Very nice Duomo,. Museum, and a Roman km 25, h 250 m. Beautiful Romanic Basilica with 3 naves. The area is

3 3 Page 3 sur 5 S. Angelo in Formis Caserta Vecchia: Km 16, h 160 m. The visit to Caserta Vecchia is a short stage, one of the most beautiful of Campania, in particular we will visit the cathedral dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel Caserta Vecchia S. Agata de Goti: km 18, h 160 m. Gothic Church (year 1238), Duomo (year 970), refuge of Gotis peoples defeated by Byzantines (XII Century) S. Agata de Goti Montesarchio: km 19, h 300 m. An imposing castle. The area is agricultural Montesarchio Benevento: km18, h 135 m, up 400 m. On the VIA APPIA ANTICA. Here Via Appia Traiana (to Brindisi) and Via Appia (to Taranto) Famous the beautiful Arc of the Emperor Trajan. The church of Santa Sofia is Lombard. Benevento Arco di Traiano BENEVENTO MONTE S. ANGELO km stages 12 th Sept 20 th Sept Benevento Pietrelcina: km 15, h 345 m, up 350 m. Hometown of Saint Padre Pio Pietrelcina Buonalbergo: km 22 h 555 m, up 550 m. Bridges Ponte Valentino and the Roman Ponte delle Chianche Curious phenomenon at Malvizza: gas of carbon dioxide is bubbling continually from the ground. Buonalbergo Aequum Tuticum (Ariano Irpino): km 20 h 700 m, up 300 m. Continuous ups and down, paths and grit roads. The Roman Via Appia Traiana meets the Roman Herculea and also a tratturo (major sheeptrack Pescasseroli Candela) Aequum Tuticum Troia: km 26, h 440 m, up 400 m down 300 m. Grit road with splendid views. Walks on the original Roman road Appia Traiana. An old masseria (farm) In Troia: a splendid Cathedral (XII Century) Troia Lucera: km 20, h 219 m 440 m, up 220 m, down 130 m. Walk on country paths bridge on the torrent Celone, ford of torrent Vulcano, crossing of sheep track. Roman Amphitheater, Duomo, imposing fortress Lucera S. Severo: Castelluccio Lucera) km 23, h 86 m. A walk along a sheep track (tratturello S. Severo Stignano: km 21, h 240 m. Long path in the country going up, visit an old masseria (old farm) Stignano S. Giovanni Rotondo: km 21, h 570 m. Demanding path with a steep sloop. Exceptional beautiful view, small tratturo (sheep track), several masserie (farms), a wood. The route becomes easy near to S.Giovanni R. S Giovanni Rotondo Monte S. Angelo: km 23, h 800 m. Track with a slight sloop, Part with asphalt, part with grit, ruins of churches Hospitality in the Abbey The cave is a famous historical place of pilgrimage. Considered one of the 4 holiest places in the world. You reach it with 90 steps down.. The

4 4 Page 4 sur 5 archangel Michael is believed to have appeared in the cave in year 490 a. C.. But the site was dedicated to other divinities since many centuries before Christ. MONTE S. ANGELO BRINDISI km stages 22nd Sept 4th Oct. Monte S. Angelo Abbazia di Pulsano Siponto: km 22, h 100 m, demanding descent. Long and demanding descent, Benedictine Abbey, but practicing Oriental liturgy. Hospitality available in the Abbey Main medieval port of Byzantines and of Normans, used also by Crusaders. Two earthquakes coupled by a bradyseismic movement destroyed the flourishing town.. Ancient Cathedral Siponto Zapponeta: Cervaro, km 20, sea level. Walk along the beach, ford of torrents Candelaro and Zapponeta Margherita di Savoia: km 20, sea level. Partly on asphalt and partly on way along thr beach, Margherita di Savoia Barletta:km 13, sea level. A part is along the beach, Castle of the Svevians, Priorate of Chevaliers of S. John, of the Templars, Cathedral (Romanic and Gothic), center of Crusaders. Area of Trulli (conica building made entirely of stones without cement or lime Barletta Trani Bisceglie: splendid Cathedral km 25 sea level. Walk in the fields along the seashore, splendid views, Bisceglie Molfetta Giovinazzo: km 20, sea level. Walk along the sea, much asphalt, Molfetta: Hospital of Templars and Duomo (XII Centu ry). Giovinazzo Bari: (XIII Century) km 22, sea level. Basilica romanic (XII Century), Svevian Norman Castle Bari Torre a Mare: km 15, sea level Very old Masserie (farms) Romanic Basilica of S. Nicholas XII Century Torre a Mare Mola di Bari Polignano: km23, sea level. Architecture with elements of Arab, Byzantine, Spanish, Norman, a Roman bridge Polignano Monopoli Egnazia: km 20, sea level. Necropolis, amphitheater forum Roman and Medieval harbour, town on a rocky sea shore. Land of trulli Egnazia Torre Canne Villanova: km 22, sea level. Torre Canne: fishing and tourist centre, Villanova: ancient town on a rocky sea shore Villanova Brindisi: their Church of S. John km 36, h 15. Some buildings as Centre of the Templars Chevaliers with BRINDISI S. MARIA DI LEUCA km stages 5th Sept 12th Sept Brindisi Torchiarolo: Greek, Italian and French style km 26, h 45 m. Part on Via Traiana Calabra, Abbey in Torchiarolo Lecce: km 24, h 50 m. Splendid Abbey of Cerrate, An entire town in very nice Baroc style, ancient cathedral of S. Croce and a Roman amphitheatre.

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