Departure: Montauro Sanctuary (Sarconi)
Arrival: Spinoso
Length: 13.8 km
Elevation gain: 340 m
Elevation loss: 540 m
Travel time: 4 hours
The route starts in the territory of Sarconi from the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Montauro, patron saint of Sarconi, located on Monte Serra at 845 m, a place inhabited since ancient times, known as "Montebuono" for its fertility, from which the name Monte Aureo derives. The route starts southwards on the Tratturo Santuario Madonna di Montauro for about 2 km, which is almost flat; then there is a short climb where there is a farm that produces and offers tastings of excellent cheeses; at the crossroads a little further on, at km 2.37, turn left onto the sunny, open path, which is the junction point for other routes on the Way (the Sentiero Lungo and the Sentiero Dei Grandi Orizzonti). Once you reach 869 m, continue towards Timpa Lo Stozzo, which you will reach by descending the path that crosses pleasant mixed vegetation. At km 4.5, once you reach the ditch on the stream, the Way climbs again for about 700 m, reaching the Campogrande clearing and continuing towards Timpa Ceraso, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Agri Valley and the surrounding mountains, immersed in broom bushes. At the crossroads at km 6.74, turn right and continue slightly uphill for about 1 km until you come to a perpendicular path, where you turn left.
Here, the route runs alongside the Fosso Salice on the slopes of Timpa Le Farnie and Tempa Ceraso and then continues along several farms and cultivated fields until km 10.2, where, on the left, there is a rural road leading to the Chapel of the Madonna dei Termini di Spinoso (644 m), which can be reached effortlessly in a few minutes. Recently restored to worship, the small stone church was a sort of border outpost on the Via Herculia, between Sarconi and Spinoso. The site is particularly well maintained and oak trees frame the church, which on the opposite side overlooks a vast horizon over Lake Pertusillo and the Agri Valley. The 14th-century wooden Madonna is splendid and so venerated that the women of Spinoso carry it on their shoulders in procession from the Mother Church of Santa Maria Maddalena on 8 May. Back in the valley, turn left onto the paved rural road and continue northwards downhill to the junction with the SP7 at km 11.3. Continue for about 200 m eastwards, turning right and then right again onto the path leading towards Spinoso. The road climbs slightly and soon levels out at around 600 m, crossing cultivated fields dotted with farms and country houses. At km 12.2, you will come across the SP7 again, which you will cross to take the rural road that goes to the right and runs parallel to the provincial road for a short stretch. At km 12.9, turn right towards Spinoso, which can be admired after climbing the last hill that leads to the historic centre and the splendid Church of the Maddalena in Piazza Roma. What you will find is a well-kept village with noble palaces and churches, a hanging garden and many paths overlooking Lake Pertusillo. Art lovers will be interested to know that the famous painter Michele Tedesco, who was born in Moliterno but spent his childhood in Spinoso, donated a splendid Sacra Famiglia (1908) to the Church of San Rocco del Popolo, located in the lower part of the village, on the street of the same name.
