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Nicknamed “the little Camino de Santiago” (“the little Way of St. James”) and opened in 1988 by the Tridentini Alpinists Society (SAT), San Vili Path connects Trento to Madonna di Campiglio: 62 miles to be strictly covered on foot – plunged into nature and spirituality – across ancient trails of Valle dell’Adige, all the way to the Brenta Dolomites.

San Vili path was not born as a pilgrim’s route – although it is widely perceived as such. It’s just a path through the local history, memory, rural landscape and luxuriant vegetation.
Ever-increasing numbers of visitors have enjoyed it for years, as this path actually offers two different tracks, for experienced and occasional trekkers.

Although it would take much more than a day, even just a short stretch of this path would prove one of the most beautiful walks in Italy. Saint Vigil himself (the patron saint of Trento) walked along this path in 4000 A.D. in his work of evangelization and that’s why there are so many chapels dedicated to him along the way; the latter is actually made of 6 legs: each one of them is an excursion on its own.

Saint Vigil is well known throughout Trentino-Alto Adige and the locals are particularly devoted to him. The patron saint was actually buried in the cathedral of Trento. Incidentally, the very name of this path (“San Vili”) stands for “Saint Vigil” in the ancient local language.

Route Description

First leg:
The path starts in Vela (a district of Trento), at 656 ft above sea level; it then reaches Lamar lakes (Santo Lake and Lamar lake – with crystal clear waters), at the foot of Mount Paganella. This first leg of the path ends in Covelo, at 3.051 ft above sea level.

Second leg:
Covelo – Moline (S. Lorenzo in Banale); the path winds among churches, sanctuaries and pleasant landscapes, such as the Sarca gorges, a spectacular natural canyon.

Third leg:
Moline (S. Lorenzo in Banale) – Irone (Airone), a village, the latter, inhabited until the Middle Ages but abandoned during the plague of 1630.

Fourth leg:
Irone (Airone) – Passo Daone (Prà de l’Asen); the latter mountain pass reaches an altitude of 4.265 ft.

Fifth leg:
This path connects Passo Daone to Pinzolo, descending along Val Rendena, on the very track to Casarole. From Vigo bridge, go up the valley to Fisto, cross the river and reach Spiazzo Rendena and the parish church of Saint Vigil; that place of worship was actually built right where the martyrdom of the Saint took place.

Sixth leg:

The last leg of San Vili path goes from Pinzolo to Madonna di Campiglio.

Photo source: http://www.camminosanvili.it/il-percorso/

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)