Via Francigena nel Sud Day 17: Telese Terme - Benevento

Road to from Rome Day 17: Telese Terme - Benevento

36 km

After leaving behind the town of Telese Terme, we passed Lago Telese, a small volcanic lake, and continued along the road to the town of Solopaca, applying Via Francigena stickers along the way. 

We took a short break in Solopaca and refilled our water bottles at the fountain before beginning the long climb up to 800 metres! We walked along the road, because some trees that had blown over in a recent storm blocked the path through the woods. In any case very few cars passed by, and we enjoyed some fantastic views of the vineyards of the Telese valley below.

Solopaca 

Solopaca 

It was a long, steep climb on a road that is legendary among local cyclists for its steep gradient. At the top, a break and a snack of blackberries and fresh walnuts straight from the tree, then we continued on, downhill, to the village of Vitulano. 

The municipality of Vitulano, with a population of only 3000, is a member of the European Association of the Vie Francigene and offered us a warm welcome and a buffet lunch!

Vitulano is famous for its unique variety of marble, and hosts an annual sculpture festival, some of the sculptures from which were on display in the hall where we were received by the mayor and offered lunch.

Mariano Goglia, Radici

Luca Maestroni, Tutto ciò che può essere. A sculpture with a practical use! 

In and around a nearby chapel were more sculptures, presented to us by sculptor and exhibition curator Mariano Goglia.

After visiting the sculpture garden, our official representatives had to skip ahead to Benevento for a meeting with the mayor of the city and the councillor for tourism and culture of the region of Campania. I joined a group of walkers from a local association, La Via Francigena dei Sanniti, to walk the rest of the way to Benevento. We walked mostly on the pavement, except for a shortcut through a vineyard and an olive grove, and then along a cycling path for the final kilometres into Benevento.

Upon arriving at Centro la Pace, where we are hosted, I had 15 minutes to shower and wash my clothing before we were taken to the nearby hamlet of Montorsi Sant'Angelo a Cupola for a meeting and exceptional dinner with the members of the local environmental association Terra Mia!