Cammino di San Vili

STAGE 01: FROM MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO TO BOCENAGO

Travel time 8h; elevation gain 159m; distance: 22.1km

The starting point of the Walk is the church of Santa Maria Antica in Madonna di Campiglio the neo-Gothic alpine church in the historic center. From here you continue southward, admiring the extraordinariness of the Brenta Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to the village of Pinzolo, where you can admire the Church of S. Vigilio, built in 1362 and frescoed by Simone Baschenis with the famous “Dance Macabre.” Leaving the built-up area of Pinzolo, one crosses the Piana di Curio to reach Caderzone Terme, where there is a spa fed by ferruginous type water and then follows to the village of Bocenago.

STAGE 02: BOCENÀGO TO SAONE – LOW VARIANT

Travel time 5.5h; elevation gain 235m; distance: 19.6km

You cross the whole village of Bocenago and then turn left slightly uphill to continue on a dirt road and then on a path through the forest, characterized by the presence of spruces, beeches and alders. Having reached the vicinity of Fisto, during the descent it is possible to glimpse from above the village of Spiazzo with the Church of San Vigilio, where according to tradition San Vigilio was stoned and thrown into the Sarca River. Continue on, towards Vigo Rendena, where the San Vili Basso continues through the villages from lower Val Rendena to Verdesina. Here the trail enters the forest rich in linden and ash trees. In about half an hour you reach Tione di Trento, and then pass in front of the church of S. Vigilio in Vat, where, again according to tradition, the body of San Vigilio was fished out of the Sarca River. A few more kilometers and you reach Saone.

STAGE 02: BOCENÀGO TO RAGOLI (HIGH VARIANT)

Travel time 7.5h; elevation gain 999m; distance: 22.7km

You cross the entire village of Bocenago and then turn left slightly uphill to continue on a dirt road and then on a path through the forest, characterized by the presence of spruces, beeches and alders. Having reached the vicinity of Fisto, during the descent it is possible to glimpse from above the village of Spiazzo with the Church of San Vigilio, where, according to tradition, San Vigilio was stoned to death. Continue on, heading toward Vigo Rendena where the Path splits. At the bridge over the Sarca River, a steep ascent into the woods begins, with an elevation gain of 700 meters. You pass by some mountain huts with a splendid view of the Carè Alto peak. At the end of the climb you arrive at Passo Daone, called by the locals “Pra da l’Àsan.” From here you descend to the village of Montagne, turn left to the depopulated village of Ceràna, pass under the capitol of Bafàl, where in 1377 the first statute of the Regole di Manéz- civic property-was drawn up. A few more kilometers and you reach the village of Ràgoli.

STAGE 3: SAONE TO SAN LORENZO IN BANALE

Travel time 7h; elevation gain 826m; distance: 24km

Departing from Saone, you take the bicycle path to the village of Ragoli and then climb to the hamlet of Iron, a village mowed down by the plague of 1630 and, today, with only one inhabitant. You then continue to the village of Stenico, where you walk alongside the Rio Bianco karst waterfall, see the Stenico Castle and the Bosco Arte Stenico, an art-in-nature museum consisting of wooden installations. Continue walking through meadows with a view of the Bleggio and Lomaso plateaus, where Don Lorenzo Guetti, the father of cooperation, was born, to reach Dorsino – San Lorenzo in Banale.

STAGE 4: SAN LORENZO IN BANALE TO MONTE TERLAGO (LOW VARIANT)

Travel time 7.5h; elevation gain 876m; distance: 26.3km

From the town of S. Lorenzo in Banale, you reach the villages of Moline and Deggia, where there is a charming shrine dedicated to the Madonna di Caravaggio. Continue along the very scenic path overlooking the Limarò Gorge carved out over the millennia by the Sarca River, to reach the small church of S. Vigilio in Ranzo erected to commemorate the passage of the mortal remains of Bishop Vigilio. Here the San Vili Basso descends to Lake Toblino, where the presence of a mild climate favors Mediterranean-type vegetation. Many animal species find their natural habitat including the mallard, grey heron and great crested grebe. The walk continues through some of the villages in the Valle dei Laghi valley, such as S. Massenza, Ciago and Covelo and then arrives in the village of Monte Terlago.

STAGE 04: SAN LORENZO IN BANALE TO MONTE TERLAGO (HIGH VARIANT)

Travel time 7.5h; elevation gain 892m; distance: 24.9km

From the town of S. Lorenzo in Banale, you reach the villages of Moline and Deggia, where there is a charming shrine dedicated to the Madonna di Caravaggio. Continue on the path overlooking the Sarca Gorge, paying attention to some somewhat exposed stretches to reach the small church of S.Vigilio in Ranzo erected to commemorate the passage of the mortal remains of Bishop Vigilio. Here the San Vili Alto climbs to the village of Margóne, where “silence is a precious commodity.” We continue walking in the woods skirting the mountain with splendid views of the valleys and peaks of eastern Trentino. It then descends toward Ciàgo to rejoin the lower San Vili and arrive at Monte Terlago

STAGE 5: MONTE TERLAGO TO TRENTO

Travel time 5.5h; elevation gain 543m; distance: 17.2km

From Mt. Terlago we continue to Holy and Lamar Lakes, the latter characterized by clear waters and set among beech, fir and rock forests and with a wide beach.

Past the two bodies of water, continue walking in the direction of Bocca Paloni, with a spectacular view of the Adige valley below. The trail continues in and out of woods and clearings to reach Sorasass, where some fortified works dating back to World War I are visible. It advances and then begins the descent to Vela, a suburb of Trento. We skirt the Adige River and the church of Sant’Apollinare, cross the bridge of S. Lorenzo to head on via Belenzani and thus arrive at the cathedral of San Vigilio in Trento, the final destination of the Walk!