Departure: Sanctuary of Madonna Sacro Monte Viggiano
Arrival: Laurenzana – Church of Santa Maria Assunta
Length: 22.7 km
Elevation gain: 330 m
Elevation loss: 1,200 m
Travel time: 6h23m
The route starts from the Sanctuary of Sacro Monte Viggiano (1688 m) and descends along a beautiful, sunny stone-paved road offering splendid views of the valley. Once you reach Piana Bonocore, where there is a large car park next to the ski lift, continue along the asphalted municipal road, passing the Chalet, until km 3.07 when, at the crossroads with the Wolf Museum – Environmental Education Centre of the Park, take the path on the right. Shortly afterwards, you will come to the Fontana dei Pastori (1386 m), where you can refill your water bottles and enjoy the pleasant company of monumental beech trees. The path continues, wide, easy and shaded. At km 4.06, leave trail 526 - Fontana dei Pastori, which continues to the right, and take the path opposite on the left. Follow the fence and you will soon come to a movable iron barrier, which you must pass through to continue straight ahead, entering the dense beech forest. Once you reach Pozzo Caldarosa, follow the fence and continue along the wide path until km 10.7, where the forest is populated with turkey oaks and offers a few clearings that suddenly open up onto the surrounding mountains. the route enters the Abetina di Laurenzana Nature Reserve, home to silver fir trees with a circumference of over 4 metres: a fantastic spectacle of nature.
Continue walking through the woods on a gentle descent, following the easy path surrounded by vegetation on what was once the Tratturo del Casoraturo, one of the sites protected by the MIC, which leads to Fontana Acque del Prosciutto. At km 16.5, on the right, you will find the Environmental Education Centre of the Abetina di Laurenzana Park.
Shortly afterwards, you will cross the SP60 road, which you take by turning left and following for 2.6 km. At the first crossroads, take the road that descends to the left of the provincial road and heads towards the village, crossing cultivated countryside with the first farms announcing the town. At the end of the descent, at km 21, the rural road curves to the right and climbs slightly. After 600 m, you will come to the SS92, which you take on the right and follow until km 22.3, when you turn left onto Corso del Popolo and continue to Largo Carità, which opens onto the feudal castle dominating the cliff. Here, turn right onto the stone-paved road and descend until you reach the asphalt road which, proceeding to the left, leads to the Church of S. Maria Assunta, built on the site of the ancient Santa Maria De Plateis of 1222. The church houses valuable works of art and the remains of Blessed Egidio da Laurenzana, a lay brother of the Order of Friars Minor who lived between the 15th and 16th centuries. The beauty of the historic centre of Laurenzana and the spectacular skyline of the castle on the cliff with the Mother Church facing it is unforgettable. Work is underway in the village to create a literary park dedicated to Michele Parrella, a leading figure in 20th-century poetry (Laurenzana 1929 - Rome 1996).
