THE SAN VICINIO PATH

In the land of the miracle-worker saint through nature and history

The San Vicinio Path is a route in 14 stages (with 2 detours and 6 connections) for a total of almost 320 km on foot, on signposted paths, starting from Sarsina. A fascinating route and experience, accessible to all, where in reaching the destination personal motivation counts for more than physical preparation. For more than two thousand years now, people have been walking over the roads of the ancient Provincia Alpes Apenninae that connected the regions of northern Europe at first with the most important city of the Roman Empire, and then with the city of Peter and Paul. Historically pilgrims journeyed to Rome and the Holy Land by routes that reached the cities of Ravenna, Forlì, Cesena and Rimini, passed through through Sarsina and Bagno di Romagna, and then continued towards Borgo San Sepolcro, Arezzo or Florence.

It was a road system that connected the most important shrines in the area and made it possible to visit them: places of worship such as Madonna del Monte in Cesena, San Vicinio in Sarsina, La Verna, the "Holy Face" in Borgo Santo Sepolcro; or, by taking a detour to the famous cultural and spiritual centre founded by Saint Romuald, the Hermitage and Monastery of Camaldoli. Less known to European pilgrims were the small shrines with older origins located in less accessible places in the area, but which were the subject of intense local devotion for saints and miraculous images, such as: the Shrine of the "Virgin of the Eyes" in Pondo di Santa Sofia and the Shrine of S. Ellero in Galeata; the Hermitage of Sant'Alberico, located near the springs of the Tiber river; or the image of the "Virgin of the Blood" and the wooden "Crucifix of Forgiveness", at the Camaldolese Abbey at Bagno di Romagna.

This ancient land and its cultural capital offer to modern travellers - as they did to the faithful coming from northern Italy and from northern Europe in past centuries - the evocative impressions of an archaic land, inherited from its history, and from a deep faith that has not given up the link with Tradition. Thanks to documents, studies, archaeological finds, records, and travel journals that reveal the union and communication between the various cultures and ideas of different countries in Europe, we can present - to curious and intelligent travellers and to the more motivated pilgrims - the San Vicinio Path, which runs along the route of shrines and places of popular devotion founded centuries ago by the kind of faith that does not argue or answer: the same faith that drove pilgrims to small or great shrines, rich with art works or just simple country churches.

It is a journey through many signs of religious and cultural history, a journey that can combine cultural motivation with the spiritual one, where the path can also be a metaphor for the journey of initiation, renewal or personal cultural enrichment.

How to reach the San Vicinio Path

Sarsina can be reached

• from the north with the public bus service from Cesena;
• from the south from Arezzo, via Borgo San Sepolcro;
• from Florence, via Bibbiena;
• from Rome, via Cesena.

If you are coming from the south of Italy by public transport, you may find the connections with Sarsina more difficult than expected. We recommend you get all the necessary information before leaving, to avoid inconvenience.

The nearest railway station is in Cesena.

If travelling by car, you can reach Sarsina

• from the north, Milan-Naples A1 highway, via Ancona on A14, exit at Cesena Nord - E45 motorway direction Rome
• From the south, Naples-Milan A1 highway, exit at Orte, E45 motorway direction Ravenna.

Detours and connections

• DETOUR 1a: Facciano - Quarto - Monteriolo - Pagno - Sarsina 
• CONNECTION 2a: Bagno di Romagna - Passo Serra - Alpe di Serra (junction with path 000 GEA/CAI 59) 
• CONNECTION 2b: Alpe di Serra (junction with path 00 GEA/CAI 59) - Passo Rotta dei Cavalli - Verghereto 
• DETOUR 14a: Fonte San Vicinio - Nuvoleto - Linaro 
• CONNECTION 14b: Junction SP 12b - Sarsina - Bazzano - Careste 
• CONNECTION 2c: Passo Rotta dei Cavalli - La Verna 
• CONNECTION 2d: Alpe di Serra (junction with path 00 GEA/CAI 59) - Serra di Sopra - Biforco La Verna 
• CONNECTION 2e: Alpe di Serra (junction with path 00 GEA/CAI 59) - Cancellino - Badia Prataglia

For more information

Please visit www.ilcamminodisanvicinio.it