Wherever you go, walk with all your heart.
We breathed mountain air, true life beyond the everyday.
The last two weeks of the Natural Path of the Parks (shortened to one) were a breath of fresh inspiration for us. We traversed nature and reaped every benefit, every lesson. By respecting nature and understanding every green nuance, we are able to reconnect with her, our Mother Earth.
200 kilometers in seven days, eight villages crossed, one national park visited, ten national civil service volunteers.
Arrival at Lake Rascino, 10 a.m.
Alessandro – Walking Nose– was welcomed with open arms. We felt like a community, a tribe. Water flowing like a stream.
It goes without saying that the view is truly spectacular. The lake welcomed the sumptuous curves of the Monte Nuria mountain range among its clear reflections. Every form of life here enhances its meaning. Every form of life has its own path.
The mountain sunrise rejuvenated our bodies and minds. The warm welcome we received recharged our batteries.
Lentil cultivation is typical of the plateau that takes its name from the lake it hosts. Sheep farming has a long history here, and every year a famous sheep show is held. The lake is a source of vitality and daily life for the entire surrounding area.
Mount Nuria awaited our climb. Wide awake, we headed towards its slopes, with steady and respectful steps. The winding curves welcomed us to the top of the mountain itself. Grateful, we arrived at Antrodoco.
As in the best of dreams, we were enchanted. It is no coincidence that the origin of the name of this village means “among the mountains.” We felt pampered.
The journey north-east along the ancient Via Salaria proceeded at a good pace; the final destination was L’Aquila, capital of the Apennines, and there were still many kilometers to cover. The rising sun smiled down on us, and we placed our trust in the journey. We were pampered by the hospitality of the mountain dwellers.
The eternity of the Monti della Laga, in the evocative pink sunset. Mount Gorzano inspired us with strength and great aspirations.
Amatrice, Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto, Campotosto. These villages, devastated by the 2016 earthquake, thrive on community. When we arrived in Amatrice on September 30, we noticed this immediately. The atmosphere was different from the usual city, from the usual chaos. It is the authenticity of the welcome, of the mountains. They taught us that from an earthquake disaster, from pain and death, you can flourish, shine and be reborn. Technically, the trails are well maintained up to Amatrice. The paths are accessible and you can enjoy nature, which is the teacher of our times and our refreshment.
After Amatrice, we crossed the border between Lazio and Abruzzo marked by the summit of Monte Cardito. The view of the lake from the summit is truly beautiful.
It was really not far from Campotosto to L’Aquila. Ortolano, the Chiarino Valley, San Pietro della Ienca. 50.5 kilometers to the Basilica of Collemaggio would reveal itself before us. Walk, walk, walk. The Gran Sasso, the highest mountain range in the Apennines, stood before us, not far away. Crossing it, one realizes how spirituality and nature are increasingly inseparable and twin social, behavioral, and inner spheres. The fatigue and effort accumulated are as numerous as the memories, and a hint of nostalgia is beginning to emerge. Above all our thoughts, Monte Corvo caresses and protects us.
Memories are our strength. The strength to move forward and enjoy every natural beauty. The Sanctuary of San Pietro della Ienca is truly a natural beauty. It appears simple, cohesive with the Apennine landscape. It is located within a small medieval village completely restored in local stone, which was important for the foundation of the city of L’Aquila and became a notable center for saffron production under Spanish rule in the 17th century. The small masonry church has a regular rectangular layout with a single nave and a gabled façade. It became a “Chiesa sub umbra Petri,” that is, a church particularly linked to the Vatican Basilica in Rome. Near the church are a stele, a stone fountain, and a bronze statue of St. John Paul II with a palm branch, as he is in the act of blessing.
Last stop. From the village of San Pietro della Ienca to L’Aquila, capital of the Apennines.
We leave the great horn that pays homage to us behind us. 14 kilometers. A lot of effort, a lot of pain, and some difficulty in finding our way, partly due to the unclear signs. But that didn’t stop us. Collebrincioni is now part of our recent past.
The valley opens up, revealing the Convent of San Giuliano. The capital of the Apennines welcomes us with a warm embrace.
The fatigue is really starting to show. Every small step has brought us to this wonderful destination.
Here we are. We have reached the end of the Way. The Basilica of Collemaggio shines brightly, facing northwest. We admire it with respect and devotion to the divine.
The journey ends, the sunset behind us is the symbol of a journey that has ended; a wish for a journey that must begin. This journey, in particular, has brought us closer together, strengthening a value that is perhaps underestimated but which makes our existence more conscious: friendship.
We thank those who hosted us. We thank all those people who made our journey a path of natural essence and conscious reconciliation and rapprochement with our Earth. Every village, every single community is a precious fire in the cold and insensitive frost. Unity and community make our actions more effective, they make us more alive.
Ad maiora.
