A spiritual journey along the ancient paths that once led from Reggio Emilia to the Sanctuary of San Pellegrino in Alpe, in the Apennine mountains on the border with Tuscany.
The Cammino di San Pellegrino is the evolution of ancient routes that pilgrims traditionally followed from the Church of St Pellegrino in Reggio Emilia to the Sanctuary of Saints Pellegrino and Bianco in San Pellegrino in Alpe, between Emilia and Tuscany, on the border between the provinces of Modena and Lucca. In various villages across our Apennines, the elderly people recount that every August it was customary to make a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary, which houses the remains of Saints Pellegrino and Bianco (7th century AD), who had settled there after a long journey. Since the post-war period, this ancient custom has gradually faded away, and today it is only occasionally observed in the neighbouring villages where devotion remains strongest. Since the 1990s, associations and private citizens have sought to revive this route, culminating in the creation of this Trail and its subsequent broader integration with the Via Matildica del Volto Santo – a merger of the routes through the ancient Matildic counties that stretched from Mantua beyond the Apennines to Lucca. The route follows the CAI trails of the Sentiero Spallanzani and the Via Matildica del Volto Santo, traversing the various climatic and biotic zones of the Reggio Emilia area, passing through enchanting landscapes and places steeped in history, which in turn enhance the religious and cultural significance of this route.
The route is divided into 5 stages, with an average distance of around 20–25 km per day. It passes through the municipalities of Reggio Emilia, Quattro Castella, Vezzano sul Crostolo, Viano, Casina, Carpineti, Toano, Villa Minozzo, Frassinoro (MO) and Castiglione di Garfagnana (LU). The total length is approximately 100 km and the total elevation gain is around 4,000 m. It does not present any significant technical difficulties and has been designed so that almost the entire route can be covered by mountain bike (95% cycleable). For the most part, it follows the CAI trail network, specifically the Spallanzani Trail, the Via Matildica del Volto Santo and the Via Bibulca in the Modena area.
The route is signposted with the typical yellow-painted arrows and the associated logo. The best time to walk the route is between April and mid-June and from mid-August to mid-October, to avoid the very hot summer temperatures and the potential difficulties caused by rain or mud during the colder months of the year. Adequate fitness for the exertion involved is required, and it is strongly recommended that you set off equipped with all the necessary gear for a walking tour.
The route
There are 5 stages, for a total distance of 100 km:
1 - From Reggio Emilia to Montalto di Vezzano, 20,7 km
2 - From Montalto di Vezzano to San Vitale Parish, 19,8 km
3 - From Pieve di San Vitale to Toano Parish, 19,8 km
4 - From Toano Parish to Gazzano, 20,4 km
5 - From Gazzano to San Pellegrino in Alpe, 17,5 km
info@camminodisanpellegrino.it
https://www.camminodisanpellegrino.it/
Polisportiva Dilettantistica Montalto
Via Cà de Miotti 1
42030 Vezzano sul Crostolo (RE) polisportivamontalto@gmail.com
Stage 1 - From Reggio Emilia to Montalto
This first stage of the Way of St Pellegrino marks the start of a long hiking and cultural trail along the ancient pilgrims’ paths which, at the end of summer, were used by pilgrims setting out on a pilgrimage to the sanctuary of San Pellegrino in Alpe, out of devotion and in thanksgiving for the harvest.
The tour starts in Reggio Emilia, specifically at the Church of San Pellegrino, gradually moving from urban surroundings towards the rolling hills.
Continuing along this first section, the route winds its way through cultivated fields, meadows and wooded stretches, alternating between dirt tracks and country paths. You’ll pass through small hamlets, ancient villages and scenic views that offer a glimpse into rural life and local traditions.
Stage 2 - From Montalto to San Vitale Parish
This second stage of the Way of St Pellegrino is one of the most picturesque sections of the route, leading from the hillside village of Montalto to the parish church of San Vitale.
The day begins in the small village of Montalto, a place steeped in history, nestled amongst the hills and valleys near Vezzano sul Crostolo.
After the initial stages of the walk, you gradually leave the hillier terrain behind and enter a landscape of countryside and open meadows, interspersed with small woods and stretches of dirt track.
The destination for this stage is the Pieve di San Vitale, an ancient place of worship that welcomes pilgrims amidst the tranquillity of the hilly meadows. The church and its surroundings bear witness to centuries of religious and rural history.
Stage 3 - From San Vitale Parish to Toano
A connecting stage marking the definitive transition from the hills to the mid-mountain region of the Apennines. This third stage of the Cammino di San Pellegrino is one of the route’s most evocative sections in terms of landscape, culture and history, continuing the journey along the ancient paths that link the villages, parish churches and castles of the Reggio Apennines. The route alternates between dirt tracks, secondary tarmac roads and CAI footpaths on natural surfaces (compacted earth, gravel and sections with exposed stones).
Stage 4 - From Toano to Gazzano
A mid-mountain stage that takes the route deeper into the heart of the Reggio Apennines. The route links Toano to Gazzano via a varied course, following secondary ridges, crossing small watersheds and constantly changing slopes. It is a physically steady but consistent day’s ride, with no particular technical difficulties.
Stage 5 - From Gazzano to San Pellegrino in Alpe
This fifth and final stage of the Way of St Pellegrino covers the high-mountain section of the route. The route continues from Gazzano to the mountain village of San Pellegrino in Alpe, passing through ridges, woods and well-marked paths, until it reaches the final destination of the route: the Sanctuary of Saints Pellegrino and Bianco in San Pellegrino in Alpe, a crossroads between Emilia and Tuscany, situated between the provinces of Modena, Reggio Emilia and Lucca.
