Cammino di San Benedetto: A majestic hike & an ancient border. Day 4: Leonessa to Poggio Bustone

The Cammino di San Benedetto (The way of St. Benedict) is a 300km hike in central Italy linking three of the most important places associated with Saint Benedict: it begins in Norcia where he was born; passes through Subiaco where he founded his first monastic house and the trail ends at the great abbey of Montecassino, where he wrote his rule, laying out the form that monasticism takes to this day.
It begins in Umbria, but soon crosses the border into Lazio, where it remains for the rest of the hike.
Day 4 of the Cammino di San Benedetto was magnificent.
The route between Leonessa and Poggio Bustone was just over 14kms, but it packed a punch with beech forests, the highest point of the hike, magical forest glades and spectacular scenery and streams.
The initial road walking was easy and quickly completed and the woods soon entered. It was here that the ascents began, but nothing too challenging. The clouds gathered and the rain started to fall, but little could take away from the beauty of the scenery - the best of the hike so far.
After passing the border stone of the Papal States and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the descent into Poggio Bustone began through open woodlands and between stunning cliffs. Even with the rain it was another perfect day of hiking in Italy.
I spent the night in the Monastery of San Giacomo just outside the village, where I chatted to the first other hikers I had met on the trail!
Music:
Not Without the Rest by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommon...
Artist: www.twinmusicom...
Maps:
Map images take from Open Street Map: www.openstreet...

[@AliL-j1c]

Great video! 😊

[@dbhikes]

Thanks again! Glad you are enjoying the hikes.

[@giorgiobottiglioni5727]

So passionate!

[@dbhikes]

@@giorgiobottiglioni5727 Thanks! It is a walk that inspires a passionate response. Glad you are enjoying the videos!

[@meredithheath5272]

Could you relocate where you were when you were in ~ 4 in the video...?
That scenery, for being "wild" seems so "refined" as a contrast to the "raggedy" landforms of, e.g. New England? ( Trees are shorter, there, in Italy, perhaps?) That landscape where you were is not to be spoiled and taken for granted.
Interesting that you said you have a passion for the history of Naples - a UNESCO World Heritage site!

[@dbhikes]

At about minute 4? If you draw a straight line between Leonessa & Poggio Bustone it would be roughly about half way. It is quite remote and also over 5000ft asl. It would be easy to wander off path (as I did, but that didn't make it to the video!).
Naples is a huge passion of mine so was extremely excited to see the border marker, even in the rain!

[@klausklausen1700]

Is it possible to buy foot in a store along the way? Realy great video und great episode of the way 🙂

[@dbhikes]

Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the videos. Yes you can buy food along the way - the route goes through many small villages and towns. For a few days you will need to buy food to carry with you for lunch, but there is never a problem finding it.