Cammino dei Cappuccini Stage 10: San Severino Marche to Camerino

The route of Cammino dei Cappuccini Stage 10

The walk starts in the center of San Severino Marche. From the main square the route passes near the Chiesa di Sant'Agostino, takes Via Nazario Sauro and then Via Salimbeni, past the art gallery (pinacoteca). Outside the town gate a small bridge is signposted "Convento cappuccini". From there a Way of the Cross road climbs to the friary, where the old "living crucifix" on the altarpiece is worth a look.

The route continues uphill on gravel and dirt roads to Rifugio Manfrica, a good place to stop and refill with water. In the section before the hut the trail also drops into the Valle dei Grilli, a wild valley with caves and the Eremo di Sant'Eustachio, a hermitage. After the hut the landscape opens up. At one point a wide view of Camerino appears, with the mountains in the background.

The last section leads to the Convento di Renacavata. The Testimonium, the certificate of the Cammino, is only issued at the friary in Ascoli Piceno, the final destination, after walking at least 100 km documented by stamps on the pilgrim credential.

Cammino dei Cappuccini Stage 10: technical data

• Start: San Severino Marche
• Finish: Camerino
• Route type: one-way, not a loop
• Length: 16.5 km
• Lowest point: 239 m
• Highest point: 752 m
• Elevation gain: about 690 m of ascent
• Trail code: CdC

On one-way routes the elevation gain depends on the direction of travel. Before setting off it is wise to check the weather, especially for the higher sections.

Map of Cammino dei Cappuccini Stage 10

The route is not a loop: it runs from San Severino Marche to Camerino and is marked with the code CdC. The map shows the course of the trail and the elevations, between 239 and 752 m. It also shows the points of interest, from the hamlet of Torrone to Rifugio Manfrica and on to Renacavata. Carrying a GPS track on a phone also makes sense, because part of the route runs on dirt roads and footpaths.

Points of interest on Cammino dei Cappuccini Stage 10

Rifugio Manfrica. This bivouac hut is a useful stop halfway through the stage, to rest and get water. Another drinking water source is also marked along the route.

Valle dei Grilli and Eremo di Sant'Eustachio. The descent from the Convento di Colpersito leads among the caves, to a secluded, quiet spot.

Colle Carisco, Torre di Beregna and the pass. Among the hills on the route are the summit of Colle Carisco, the ruins of the Torre di Beregna tower and a pass.

Churches and hamlets. Along the way there is a church on the trail, a roadside shrine and the Chiesa di San Nicolò (or San Nicola). The route also crosses the hamlets of Torrone and Renacavata.

San Gregorio Magno in Dinazzano. It can be reached from Renacavata with a short walk through chestnut woods. The church and the adjoining monastery date from around the year 1000 and housed Benedictine nuns and later Poor Clares. It was a stopping place for pilgrims on the ancient Via Romano-Lauretana. It holds a 16th-century fresco of the Madonna di Loreto, which is reported to be in urgent need of restoration. Before making a detour it is best to ask about the condition of the church.

Convento di Renacavata. This is the first Capuchin friary. The Order was founded in Camerino in 1528 and from here spread across Italy and then the world. Friars still live here, and the Novitiate has been based at the friary for centuries. The friary hosts a limited number of pilgrims: reservations must be made in advance, a sleeping bag liner is recommended, and stays are limited to a single night.

The following day is described on the page Cammino dei Cappuccini stage 11, from Camerino toward San Lorenzo al Lago. The overview of the whole itinerary is on the Cammino dei Cappuccini page.