The village of Guadagnolo is the gateway to another world. It welcomes visitors arriving from the vast Tiber plain and prepares them for the mountainous terrain ahead. Mount Guadagnolo, one of the prominent peaks of the Prenestini Mountains, is the first ridge of this stretch of the Apennines from which the sea can still be clearly seen to the west, allowing us to enjoy a panoramic view to the east of the mountain ranges we will explore.
Thus, descending towards the first, still distant, valley floor, the first major destination is the Mentorella Sanctuary. This place was very dear to Pope Karol Wojtyla and was one of the sites visited by St. Benedict. From the Sanctuary, the route becomes a proper trail, losing altitude with a series of turns, cutting across the eastern slope. Under a series of cliffs, you return to a dirt road until you reach a clearing with a sign. Ignoring the road on the right that descends, continue along the road that initially runs flat on the left.
The walk is gentle and crosses a sparse oak forest, until it finally loses a little altitude to the provincial road. Cross it to continue on another dirt road. Follow it all the way, without turning, and passing water channels, you will flank some industrial buildings near another paved road. Walk along this road to the left until you reach the uphill junction that leads to Cerreto Laziale. Follow Via Costa Sole for about 300 m, then turn right onto Via della Circonvallazione and follow it for about 1 km. Then turn right and take a slightly downhill path that leads to a small flat field.
Start climbing through a chestnut grove until you reach the SP47 provincial road, then take a dirt road that leads to the path to Rocca Canterano. In the village, take the Roman road, which you leave on the right after about 200 meters, turning onto a secondary road that leads to the next village of Canterano and then back to the SP47 provincial road. Finally, take a secondary road that leads to the banks of the Aniene River and from there continue towards Subiaco.
