Departure: Sacro Monte di Viggiano
Arrival: Padula
Length: 32.83 km
Elevation gain: 720 m
Elevation loss: 1830 m
Travel time: 9h45m
The route starts from the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna of Sacro Monte di Viggiano, which is almost 1,700 metres above sea level. After admiring the breathtaking view from the top of the mountain dedicated to the patron saint of the Lucanians, head to the rear of the sanctuary and take the ancient sheep track that descends the ridge of Monte Augustella. Paying attention to the footpath, you proceed surrounded by a clear highland landscape. At km 2.93, once you reach the large clearing of the Tuppo delle Seti crossroads (1286 m), cross the SP141 road and take the Ventennale path (501). The path continues through the Calanche pine forest, skirting the Fosso Salicone, and at km 5.37 it reaches the crossroads from which you can easily reach Marsicovetere, less than a kilometre away and well worth a visit for its beautiful historic centre. From here, turn right onto the paved rural road and, with the Volturino on the horizon, walk along the Copone spring, where you can fill your water bottles. After passing the country house with its beautiful stone portal, at km 6.16, keep left at the fork and continue downhill towards the valley on the paved rural road that runs alongside the Molinara stream, which at km 9 marks the landscape with pleasant waterfalls. At km 9.7, on Via Barricelle, you will come across a few houses and a fountain, at the crossroads where you need to take the road on the right (II Traversa Molinara) which, at km 12.3, reaches the SP80 at the gates of Galaino.
Cross the provincial road and continue along Via Traversa IV Fontana Capano, now in the heart of the Agri Valley, at 600 metres above sea level. After 700 metres through fertile countryside with Monticello di Tramutola in the background, turn right onto the path perpendicular to the road that runs alongside the sown field for 2 kilometres.
At km 15, you need to make a U-turn to cross the Agri river, i.e. turn left and then immediately right to cross the bridge and briefly follow the river, turning right to rejoin the Via delle Rubinie path on the left, which leads to Paterno. After crossing the Alto Agri provincial road at km 16.9, continue straight on Via Pioniello, where the climb to Serra Del Monaco begins, marked by a beautiful public fountain and a view of the canals that cross Paterno. The road climbs and, from km 17.5, there is a series of picturesque hairpin bends from which you can enjoy an increasingly wide view of the Agri Valley. The road is sunny and marked at the edges by typical hillside vegetation: rowans, blackberries, dogwoods and brooms. At km 20.4, keep left and continue southwards where, at km 20.8, you will find the monumental structure of the Sorgitora Spring of the Agri Aqueduct with the nearby Palace, immersed in a dense forest in a magical and alienating atmosphere. At km 21.9, just below 1,000 metres, turn right onto the dirt path surrounded by ferns and other mountain vegetation that gradually thickens. At km 23, at the crossroads of the paths near a disused shelter, keep to the right and continue climbing through the mixed forest of oaks, beeches and pines, which becomes splendid at Serra Del Monaco, above 1200 m, welcoming travellers into a 'living room' of nature, with a carpet of leaves, cyclamen, the sun drawing rays of light through the beech trees and Podolica cows moving with the undisturbed elegance of true masters of the house.
This paradise marks the border between Basilicata and Campania, the Lucanian Apennine Park and the Cilento Park. But the path continues undisturbed towards Padula, which is reached at km 33, crossing the Via del Monte Romito and revealing a fascinating mountain area located in ancient Lucania: the Cosilinum Archaeological Park, the cyclopean walls, the tower and the hermitage of San Michele alle Grottelle. From here, you can quickly reach Padula and its monumental Certosa, from where many paths lead to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Neve on Monte Cervato and to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sacro Monte di Velia, a place of pilgrimage, which has always been venerated by devotees from a large area of southern Italy, in the same way as the Sanctuary of Sacro Monte di Viggiano and that of Madonna del Pollino.
