Departure: Sante Marie
Arrival: St. Stephen’s
Distance: 6 km
Height difference: +380 m / – 160 m

You can get to Sante Marie (850 m) by train (Tagliacozzo stop, then bus) or by car. After collecting your safe-conduct at the Town Hall office (you get stamped along the way to get your final certificate), start walking through the historic center following the red-white signs.

Departure: St. Stephen’s
Arrival: Nesce
Distance: 13.9 km
Height difference: +460 m / – 670 m

You enter Val de Varri, the least touristy valley of the trip; think of the road through it being paved a few years ago. From the Val de Varri we climb over and enter the Valle del Salto, passing over a small mountain, here the main path remains at high altitude, while a variant descends to the village of Poggiovalle (it was a village of brigands, some famous brigands came from here). But we chose as the main route to stay on the mountain with a beautiful scenic trail leading directly to Nesce.

Departure: Nesce
Arrival: Corvaro
Distance: 15.5 km
Height difference: +410 m / – 380 m

You go down the Salto River walking alongside it for a stretch. Then you pass under Mount Rose to Spedino, and from here you turn left following the red-and-white signs and descend into the woods to Corvaro. Here you can sleep either in structure or in tents, and there are various opportunities for dining (pizzerias, pubs, restaurant).

Variants

• Variant to Cartore (from Spedino): variant that follows the old route of the walk, suitable for those who want to shorten the route.
• Variant for Grotti – Torano – Spedino: suitable for those who want to sleep in Grotti or Torano, and for those who want to avoid the mountains, especially when there is mud.

Variant from Spedino to Cartore

Spedino to Cartore km 5.6
The variant begins in Spedino, from where you descend to the valley floor, pass under the highway and follow the path to the beautiful village of Cartore, home to a famous band of brigands.
Overnight stay in the beautiful village of Cartore, rooms with restaurant.

Villerose – Grotti – Torano – Spedino variant.

Variant Start – Grotti 3 km
Grotti – Torano 4 km
Torano – Spedino 3 km
Suitable for those who want to pass through villages, where they can find sleeping and food, and want to avoid the mountains, especially when there is mud. You can sleep in an apartment in Grotti or in a facility in Torano.

Departure: Corvaro
Arrival: Cartore
Distance: 15.3 km
Height difference: +1140 m / – 1050 m

From Corvaro you leave the village and take the path up to the Duchessa for a beautiful path in the beech forest, without difficulty, very wild but well marked, to Duchessa Lake. From here in the day you can descend to the valley, either to Cartore (for Val di Fua or Prati di San Leonardo), or to Rosciolo (for Val di Teve).

Long variant, passing through the Teve valley

• km 21.1
• elevation gain 1280 m
• vertical drop 1200 m

When you reach Duchess Lake you climb further to 2100 meters, then descend to Malopasso and Capo di Teve. You go all the way through the beautiful Val di Teve, until you exit the valley. if you turn right you go to Cartore in about a kilometer. if you want to stretch another 8 km, making the STAGE 29 km (be careful, it is very long) you can go directly to Rosciolo.

Ring variant from Cartore

There are two possibilities, an easier one of 12 km (ascent from Val di Fua and descent from Prati di San Leonardo) and one of 17 km (to Val di Teve), but much longer in elevation gain and only for experienced hikers. Both possibilities are described in detail in the book.

Third hypothesis (not described in the guidebook): from Cartore it is possible to make a variant off the Cammino, climbing Mount Velino (2489 m), sleeping at Rifugio Sebastiani and returning by another path to Santa Maria in Valle, in two days of walking. Summer variant for very trained walkers who are well prepared to move on difficult, and poorly marked, trails. The terrain is high mountain, severe and airy. For this variant you must have a topographic map of Mount Velino, and follow the trails, trying not to lose them.

Departure: Cartore
Arrival: Massa d’Albe
Distance: 15km
Height difference: +505 m / – 600 m

From Cartore, the path climbs to Passo Le Forche, at the foot of Mount Velino, and then descends to Santa Maria in Valle Porclaneta, an extraordinarily evocative place that holds a splendid 10th-century Romanesque church, an authentic masterpiece of art. A little further on is the medieval village of Rosciolo (8.5 km), perfect as a STAGE point for those who want a more relaxed day: here there are cozy accommodations and excellent restaurants. Those who choose to continue, however, take a scenic uphill gorge that leads back under the Velino, before descending to the village of Massa d’Albe.

Departure: Massa d’Albe
Arrival: Casale le Crete
Distance: 19 km
Height difference: +250 m / – 300 m

From Massa d’Albe the route climbs back up to Alba Fucens (8.5 km), an ancient Roman city that is definitely worth a stop and a thorough visit. It then continues downhill to Magliano de’ Marsi, the largest and best-equipped center along the entire route.
From here the route continues towards Scurcola (or, if you choose the variant, towards Sorbo) until it reaches Le Crete.

Departure: Casale le Crete
Arrival: Sante Marie
Distance: 21 km
Height difference: +570 m / – 480 m

From Le Crete the route continues along scenic dirt roads that lead to San Donato, where you climb to the ruins of an ancient castle. From here it descends to Scanzano and then, still following small roads and paths, it crosses Tubione and finally Sante Marie, the final STAGE of the Cammino, where it is possible to collect one’s certificate of completion.

Variants

The route has several variants, all of which are included in the GPS tracks available free of charge on the official website. These alternate routes are marked with white and blue paint and special signs.

Villerose – Grotti – Torano – Spedino variant.

The detour to Grotti and Torano begins shortly after the bridge over the Salto River that leads to Villerose. Here you leave the main route of the Cammino dei BRIGANTI, which bends to the left, and instead continue straight along an obvious dirt road that goes up the river until you reach the asphalt road.
New white-blue signage accompanies this section. When you reach the asphalt road, turn right, cross a bridge and reach a drinking fountain on the right. From here take the dirt road opposite, lined in part with oak trees, which in about half an hour leads to the entrance to Grotti. Passing a small bridge on the left and turning right, you enter the village. To return to the main route, simply retrace the same route in the opposite direction.

From Grotti the path continues along the river on the right bank until it reaches Torano, crossing it to the center of the village. To continue to Spedino, turn back to the church of San Pietro in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, then take Via Spedino: a dirt road that goes through a grove of oaks, passes the San Paolo spring on the right and, after about 45 minutes, rejoins the Cammino dei Briganti in the village of Spedino.