Discovering the CAMMINO DI SAN BENEDETTO: The tale of an authentic Italy through the eyes of an architect.
For several years already, I have been dedicated to slow travel and there are thousands of kilometers I have traveled, between the Iberian Peninsula and Italy.
Simply walking allowed me to discover places and cultures in an authentic and slow way and gave me the opportunity to meet people with whom I shared unique moments and life stories.
But in addition to having a walking soul, I am an architect, and this led me to be involved by the Directorate General for Museums at the Working Table for the project to enhance the Certosa di Trisulti, a place of immense artistic and architectural prestige that lies along the Cammino di San Benedetto.
During the first meetings at the Table, however, I wondered how I could manage to make my contribution to bring light back to a place of such great beauty, without knowing the path from there.
I felt within me the desire and duty to know those places, people and history.
So it was last August 2022 that I decided to leave.
The path traverses the green heart of Italy for three hundred kilometers, leading from the city of Norcia to the Abbey of Montecassino.
I knew that this path would not be easy, but I had not yet really understood its true scope. In fact, from the very first day it was really challenging. I walked more than 25 kilometers through valleys and dense forests of the Umbrian region.
The continuous ups and downs of the Central Apennines are real tests, requiring a lot of discipline, physical and mental endurance for a walker. The following days were just as challenging, but also more rewarding, the landscapes were breathtaking and it was really nice to meet and dine with the local people where I stopped to rest.
On the way, I passed through the unspoiled nature of the Upper Valnerina, enchanting places, and villages considered among the most beautiful in Italy. I visited churches, slept in theHermitage of San Biagio, which overlooks the impressive Sacro Speco di San Benedetto in Subiaco.
The most difficult part of the walk was definitely the ascent to Monte Cassino, where the Abbey founded by St. Benedict is located. The climb was steep and tiring, but when I reached the top and saw the beautiful Abbey, I realized that all the effort was worth it. My journey ended in the Cloister of Paradise, a Renaissance masterpiece in Bramante’s style, with a breathtaking view of the Liri Valley.
The CAMMINO DI SAN BENEDETTO was an incredible experience. I experienced the beauty of nature, met wonderful people, and discovered the history and spirituality of an ancient and authentic Italy.
“Cammini Aperti” Initiative – An initiative financed by the Development and Cohesion Fund, Development and Cohesion Plan under the Ministry of Culture, “The Religious Paths of St. Francis, St. Benedict and St. Scholastica – Cross Actions” of which the Ministry of Tourism is a beneficiary.
