Cammino di Tindari
The Cammino di Tindari has taken up an ancient tradition of pilgrimages from the Alcantara valley in the province of Messina to the Shrine of the Black Madonna of Tindari, bypassing the Peloritani and Nebrodi mountains.
HISTORY
“A millennial mantle of devotion has enveloped the icon of the Virgin and Child. Until she shone with a brunette beauty: Nigra sum, sed formosa punctuates the Song of Songs. Thus were born the Black Madonnas that dot Europe by the hundreds, guiding, over the centuries, the lives of the faithful and the destiny of peoples” (Avvenire, May 26, 2010).
Among them, the Black Madonna of Tindari moves thousands of faithful to the shrine in the province of Messina each year as they make pilgrimages there. They arrive by bus or car, but the journey ends for many by walking the final climb to the shrine barefoot or even on their knees, in gratitude for a grace received or to ask for one.
From time immemorial, however, from all over the surrounding area, in the week dedicated to Our Lady (but also at other times), there are many faithful who, out of devotion, use to set out on foot to Tindari, resting only as long as necessary, in shepherds’ shelters or hosted by some benevolent parish priest. Listening to the accounts of older people, we have news of pilgrims who carried out the entire journey barefoot, walking along mountain paths on the Peloritani Mountains, crossing streams and impassable sheep-tracks, heedless of the discomfort and fatigue.
The pilgrimage was done in a single stage, walking even at night, but, as mentioned, those who set out from more distant places complete the journey in two days.
WATER SOURCES.
In the first stage you can fill water bottles in Malvagna (37.920329, 15.056535) and in contrada Pittari (37.929388, 15.050623) also in Malvagna territory and then in Montalbano territory (37.996844, 15.036149) but often in summer it is dry so it is recommended to have a good supply of water leaving Malvagna. Other springs can be found at the beginning of Montalbano (38.020662, 15.017604) and inside the village (38.022911, 15.014576).
At the beginning of the second stage you can refuel with water by leaving Montalbano just after the “Il Gelso” farmhouse (38.030437, 15.010043) and then at Braidi (38.057208, 15.013781) after which you will have about 12 km ahead without water points and then find a fountain at Scala di Patti, 100 Barone Sciacca Street (38.130158, 15.036622) a few kilometers from the finish. Here there is another public fountain just before arriving at the Sanctuary (38.141188, 15.046023) Via Monsignor Pullano, 43.
STAGE-BY-STAGE SERVICES
1st Stage.
In Mojo or Malvagna there are pharmacy and grocery stores where you can prepare your packed lunch for the first leg since, at mid-day, you will still be in the Malabotta Woods.
2nd Stage.
In Montalbano Elicona you will find the pharmacy, small stores, bakeries and typical small restaurants where you can have a restorative dinner based on Nebrodi products.
SIGNAGE
There is vertical and horizontal signage on the Trail.
DANGERS
In the Pittari Woods and Malabotta Woods it is not uncommon to encounter wild pigs, which are normally very shy and when they hear noise they move away.
Be careful when you reach the Rocca Vuturi viewpoint, along the first stage, there are no protective barriers.
ACCESSIBILITY
Only some sections are passable by people with mobility disabilities. On the first leg from Mojo to the Pittari district (with a small detour before Malvagna). However, it is necessary to evaluate each individual situation since there is a considerable height difference to overcome. From Montalbano the second stage is entirely practicable, avoiding the medieval path to Braidi: you leave the village in the direction of Messina and, after a few hundred meters, you meet, on the left, the fork to Braidi.
TENT WALK
1st Stage: It is possible to set up the tent in Moio Alcantara by contacting the association (3881480032); in Montalbano at the affiliated Agriturismo “Il Gelso” (Aurelio +39 3392849365).
2nd Stage: From Tindari, follow the Coda di Volpe Trail (2 km) to reach the sea, Oliveri, and the beautiful nature reserve of the small lakes of Marinello where you can camp in the Marinello Village (conventioned, tel. 0941 313000).
ROAD BOTTOM.
Asphalt: 55%; dirt: 40%; Cittolato, paved or basalt: 5%.
CREDENTIALS
The Pilgrim’s Card is issued on a donative basis
CONTACTS
E-mail: compagniadellostello@gmail.com
Contact person: Pippo Currenti, cell. +39 3881480032 – Rita Pappalardo + 39 3286196960
STAGE 01
Stage 1: Moio Alcantara to Montalbano Elicona, km 23, elevation gain 900m.
Starting from Moio, the most challenging part of the trail begins immediately, reaching Malvagna after less than 3 km, then the Contrada Pittari Forest and then the Malabotta Forest, passing from the 530 m asl of Mojo to the 1327 m of Pizzo Ralo and the 1325 m of Rocca Vuturi from where there is a beautiful panorama that sweeps from Etna, to the Ionian Sea, to Capo Milazzo on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Past the Forest we first reach the Megaliths of the Argimusco Plateau with its huge anthropomorphic and zoomorphic rocks and finally Montalbano Elicona, Corgo dei Borghi 2015, where the first stage ends.
STAGE 02
Stage 2: From the square in front of the Sanctuary of Maria SS. della Provvidenza next to Corso Umberto and following the signs, take the old path through hazel groves and past the Elicona stream to the hamlet of Braidi.
From here, taking the Messina road, we take a short shortcut by first taking SP 119, with some detours to avoid the asphalt, and then SP 108, which takes us to a plateau from where we can admire the Aeolian Islands and, in the distance, the Sanctuary, the destination of our pilgrimage.
Without leaving the provincial road, one crosses the hamlet of Scala di Patti and then, having passed the SS 113, travels the last two kilometers toward the Tindari Sanctuary.
