Cammino di San Benedetto: Norcia to Montecassino
The Cammino di San Benedetto (Way of St. Benedict) is a walking route of about 300 km that links, in 16 stages, Norcia, the saint's birthplace, and the abbey of Montecassino. It starts in Norcia and ends at Montecassino. Norcia lies at the foot of the Sibillini Mountains. The route crosses Umbria and Lazio, almost reaches the border with Campania and follows roads and old drove roads (tratturi) once traveled by goods, pilgrims and travelers. It passes through the upper Aniene valley to Subiaco, then descends into the Liri valley to Cassino.
Along the way there are also places linked to other saints, such as Rita of Cascia, Francis of Assisi and Thomas Aquinas. The walk is open to everyone, not only believers. It has brought new life to many small, little-known villages left out of mass tourism.
Before you go
Forecast at the start
- Today17° / 12°0.2 mmLight rain
- Tomorrow18° / 12°7.6 mmLight rain
- Friday15° / 12°40.5 mmHeavy rain
Forecast by MET Norway, updated automatically · license CC BY 4.0
Rules and orders: Park website. Snow and avalanches: Meteomont bulletin.
The stages on the map
Map and track: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
The stages
2 results
- TrailCammino di San Benedetto Stage 1Cascia · Difficulty E · 17.5 km · +525 m · 5:40 h
- TrailCammino di San Benedetto Stage 2Cascia · Difficulty E · 17.4 km · +718 m · 6:00 h
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The stages of the Cammino di San Benedetto
On foot the whole route takes 16 days, one stage a day. The places on the way are Norcia, Cascia, Monteleone di Spoleto, Leonessa, Poggio Bustone, Rieti with the Valle Santa, Rocca Sinibalda and Castel di Tora, Pozzaglia, Orvinio, Mandela, Vicovaro, Subiaco, Trevi nel Lazio, Collepardo with the Certosa di Trisulti, Casamari, Arpino, the Melfa gorges, Roccasecca and finally Montecassino.
The first stage runs from Norcia to Cascia and is 17.3 km long, with about 535 m of ascent. It starts from Piazza San Benedetto in Norcia and takes up most of the day. The first section crosses the Santa Scolastica plateau, among farmed fields and open spaces. Then comes a saddle to cross, with a demanding climb that opens up the view toward the valley. The descent to Cascia passes rural hamlets and quiet corners.
The second stage links Cascia to Monteleone di Spoleto and is about 17.5 km long. The detailed pages for the first two days are Cammino di San Benedetto - Stage 01 and Cammino di San Benedetto - Stage 02.
The route of the Cammino di San Benedetto
The route alternates footpaths, cart tracks, old transhumance routes and minor roads. The elevation reaches a maximum of about 1,500 m above sea level. The difficulty is medium: the walk is classified as being of medium difficulty.
The waymarking is well maintained. Along the route there are 55×15 cm signposts showing the next destination, the intermediate destinations and the end of the stage, along with distances in kilometers. The waymarking has been renewed. In Umbria it is two-way, while in Lazio it points mainly toward Montecassino. Walking the route in reverse is technically possible, but the association recommends the Norcia-Montecassino direction. Water sources are available on every stage.
The walk is presented as a route leading to the tomb of Benedict, at Montecassino. It crosses other itineraries: Con le ali ai piedi, Di qui passò Francesco and the Via Francigena del Sud. Other multi-day routes in the area are collected on the page multi-day hikes and treks.
In Norcia the Basilica of San Benedetto was hit hard by the earthquake. The quake of October 30, 2016 severely damaged it. The elegant Gothic facade had survived the collapse; the basilica was then rebuilt and returned to the faithful on October 30 and 31, 2025.
How to plan the Cammino di San Benedetto
Getting to Norcia. Take the train to Spoleto station; buses to Norcia leave from the station forecourt, a trip of about an hour. Some buses have a bike rack.
How much time it takes. The whole route takes 16 days on foot or 7 days by bike. Those with less time can choose just some stages: there is no minimum distance for the testimonium.
Credential and testimonium. Walkers are called "pilgrims" and carry the credential, a kind of passport on which the stamps of the places passed are collected. It can be requested on the website of the Cammino association and delivered to your home before departure. It is not mailed if there are fewer than 15 days to departure, 20 for groups. In exceptional cases it can be collected in Norcia or at the abbey of Santa Scolastica in Subiaco. Stamps are collected at convents, monasteries, accommodation facilities and various businesses, including cafés. At Montecassino, on presenting the stamped credential, pilgrims receive the testimonium, the certificate of completed pilgrimage.
When to go. The recommended period for setting off runs from March to November. Another recommendation suggests spring and fall, partly because in the summer months temperatures in Ciociaria and the Lazio valleys can be very high.
Preparation. The walk is not technical, but it requires some training: some stages exceed 20 km and have demanding elevation changes, especially in the Apennine section. Broken-in boots and layered clothing are needed, and checking the weather before each stage is advisable.
Where to stay along the Cammino di San Benedetto
The credential is the document that opens the doors to hospitality along the route. It allows pilgrims to stay in donation-based ("a donativo") accommodation and in commercial facilities at agreed prices. It is required at most pilgrim hostels, so it should be requested before leaving.
The complete list of accommodation, divided by stage and with the prices reserved for pilgrims with a credential, is published in the guide to the Cammino and in the accommodation section of the association's website, where the information is kept up to date. It is worth consulting before fixing the stages, because the distance between one place to stay and the next determines the length of each day.