Departure: Pantano-Pignola
Arrival: Convent of St. Mary of the Angels, Lagonegro
Length: 104 km | Stages: 5
Elevation gain: 3,970 m
Elevation loss: 4,220 m
Travel time: 32 hours 18 minutes
The Long Trail is the main route of the Cammino dei Cinti. It crosses the park lengthwise and touches some of the iconic peaks of the Lucanian Apennines, mountain ranges and peaks marked by places of worship, often embellished with pictorial cycles and wooden statues of great value: sanctuaries, churches and chapels, from which you can enjoy vast horizons.
Stage 1 | 18.8 km. The route starts from Contrada di Pantano (793 m), in the countryside of Pignola; from the Sanctuary of the Madonna degli Angeli, it climbs towards Arioso in the direction of Passo della Sellata (1260 m) and from here it reaches the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Monteforte (900 m). Next, you will come to Abriola (858 m) and, after a few ups and downs, you will arrive in the centre of Calvello, at the Convent of Santa Maria de Plano, the end of the first stage.
Stage 2 | 19.5 km From Calvello (750 m), climb towards the Potentissima plateau (1057 m) and from there towards Monte Volturino, reaching 1340 m. Once you reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Monte Saraceno (1280 m), immersed in the beech forest, continue to the clearing of Tuppo delle Seti. Take the ancient sheep track to reach the summit of Sacro Monte di Viggiano (1685 m), which dominates the Agri Valley. From the Sanctuary of the Madonna Nera, patron saint of the Lucanians, past Piana Bonocore, you will find the village of Acqua dei Pastori and the chalet for a rest (1383 m).
Stage 3 | 20.5 km. Take trail 526, which crosses a large beech forest, and descend towards Viggiano (930 m). Once you have passed the town, head towards the Agri valley where there are several places of worship, including the Madonna del Grumentino, the small churches of S. Maria and San Laverio (550 m), the first martyr of Lucania, and the early Christian Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in the archaeological park of Grumentum, the arrival point of the third stage, at 58.8 km.
Stage 4 | 25 km. After passing the National Archaeological Museum and reaching the village of Sarconi (637 m), continue towards the Madonna di Montauro junction, proceeding straight uphill towards Timpa del Conte. Take the Sentiero Italia (T05) trail and continue climbing between Timpe d'Inverno and Murgia; finally, skirting the southern slope of Serra Giumenta, take the path that leads from the Conserva beech forest to the refuge of the same name (1414 m - 83.8 km).
Stage 5 | 20.2 km. From Conserva di Lauria, set off towards Laudemio, a picturesque lake of glacial origin. After crossing several clearings, you will reach the Valle dei Porcili, from where the trail, which runs to the right of Monte del Papa, climbs up to the Santuario della Madonna del Sirino (1910 m), which dominates the landscape all the way to the Tyrrhenian Sea. From here, the descent begins along the historic pilgrims' path that leads to the Madonna del Brusco (1060 m) and then to the centre of Lagonegro (600 m). Here you will find the Sentiero Italia (T07) trail, which leads along a pleasant rural path to the Convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli (549 m), where you can stay (104 km).
