Cammino di San Benedetto

Following the life of St. Benedict

The Way of St. Benedict is a pilgrimage route through the hills and mountains of central Italy that follows the life of St. Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism and patron saint of Europe. The path connects three places closely tied to his life: Norcia, where he was born; Subiaco, where he spent years in solitude and founded his first monasteries; and Montecassino, where he later established the great monastery that would shape Christian life in Europe for centuries.

Hiker with a backpack walking along a city street at sunset, overlooking a valley with mountains in the distance.

When we are going next

Three people walking down a cobblestone street in a historic town with old stone buildings and a bell tower in the background.

June 14th - 22nd, 2027

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The Route

Map showing a route from Subiaco to Montecassino in Italy, with nearby cities Rome and Naples labeled.

Our pilgrimage begins in Subiaco, the place where St. Benedict first withdrew from the world and where his monastic life began. From Subiaco, the path leads south through the mountains and countryside of Lazio toward Montecassino, where Benedict eventually founded the monastery that would become the heart of the Benedictine tradition.

Walking this route places pilgrims within the spiritual landscape that shaped St. Benedict’s life. The steady rhythm of the road—walking, prayer, shared meals, and simple hospitality—mirrors the wisdom Benedict himself taught: that a life ordered toward God is built not through dramatic moments, but through faithful steps taken day by day.

Hiker walking on a trail through a hillside with trees and rocks under a partly cloudy sky.
View of a valley with fields, buildings, and roads, framed by open window with mountains in the distance and a cloudy sky.
Narrow cobblestone alleyway in an old European city during dusk, with stone buildings on either side, small potted plants, and warm street lighting.
A woman with a large backpack looking out over a scenic landscape from a stone balcony, with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.
A scenic view of lush green mountains with a small building with a red-tiled roof in the foreground, partially covered by trees and bushes, under a partly cloudy sky.
Three hikers meet a horse near an olive tree on a trail with mountains in the background.
A narrow cobblestone street with stone walls on each side, leading to a church with a bell tower and a clock, under a partly cloudy blue sky with a tree on the right.
A wide view of a rural landscape with houses, green fields, and mountains in the distance under a clear sky at sunset.
A covered arched walkway with stone columns, hanging lanterns, and shadows cast on the ground, overlooking a grassy area with trees and a building in the background.
A person walking through a stone archway of an ancient castle or fortress with a tall rectangular tower visible in the background, and sunny weather.
View of a hillside castle with multiple levels and towers, trees on the right, and hikers walking on a winding road.
Two hikers walking on a dirt trail through a lush green landscape with a small hillside village and mountains in the background.
Two people sitting on a stone bench near a historic European church with a fountain and cobblestone walkway under a clear blue sky.
Mountain landscape with lush green trees, rocky slopes, a building near the base, and a partly cloudy sky.
Two women hiking on a trail in a hilly area with trees and rocks, with mountains and a building in the distance.
Three hikers with backpacks walking down a grassy trail on a mountainside, overlooking a valley with mountains in the background.
A narrow cobblestone alleyway flanked by tall, colorful buildings with shuttered windows, with mountains in the background and four hikers walking away from the camera.
A scenic view of a valley with rolling green fields, scattered houses, and distant mountains at sunset.
A woman walking through a covered walkway with arches on the left side and a view of a courtyard with green bushes and trees on the right side, under a blue sky.
A man sitting on steps of an Italian hillside villa or castle, facing away, with a backpack and a statue nearby, overlooking a scenic valley under a partly cloudy sky.
A young woman with a backpack standing in an old stone archway in a small Italian village with mountains in the background.
A person standing on rocks near a small waterfall in a lush green forest.
An ancient stone tower on a hill with surrounding stone walls and buildings, overlooking a field with young trees and a small sign, under a clear blue sky.
Three hikers walking along a mountain road surrounded by trees and rocky cliffs under sunlight.
A hillside town with numerous houses and buildings of varying heights and colors, surrounded by lush green trees and forested mountains under a cloudy sky.
A scenic view of a lush, green countryside with vineyards, a stone house, and rolling mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Scenic view of a hillside town with historic brick buildings, green trees, and mountains in the background under partly cloudy sky.
A woman with curly hair tied in a bun standing in front of religious mural paintings inside a church, with sunlight coming through a window on the right side.
Stone building built into the side of a mountain with arches and small windows, with lush green hills and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Our typical route is 6 days of walking, beginning in Subiaco. The pilgrimage can be extended to 16 days of walking, beginning in Norcia. We add a travel day on each end of the trip as well as a rest and celebration day in Rome, making the pilgrimage 9 days to 19 days

  • The distance from Subiaco to Montecassino is approximately 130km (or 80 miles). Each day is between 10 to 18 miles.

  • The via Benedetto is a combination of dirt, rock, cobble stone, and paved walk ways. The elevation change varies each day ranging from 1200ft to 2300ft of elevation gain in a single day.

  • Hospitality in Italy is the best and often depends on the whims of the town that day. We organize all lodging before hand; staying in monasteries with scheduled breakfasts and dinners.

    We also stay in local airbnb’s who love to host us with home cooked meals and fresh fruits. Lunches are packed each day as there are not as many small towns that break up each day for additional food before our day’s end.

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