Ontdek Friuli met je eigen gids / Discover Friuli with your own guide / Scopri il Friuli con la tua guida privata /
Entdecken Sie Friaul mit Ihrer eigenen Fremdenführerin
WALK OVER (OR PARTS OF) THE HEAVENLY WAY 'IL CAMMINO CELESTE' - A RELIGIOUS OLD PILGRIMAGE ROUTE OF 210 KM. WHILE HIKING YOU VISIT VARIOUS PILGRIMAGE SITES.
While walking, you cross the region from South to North. Starting from the lagune of Grado on the island of Barbana, you then continue heading north across the flat land towards the hilly landscape to end your journey on top of "Mount Lussari".
You will visit various shrines where over the centuries christians from three different countries: Slovenia, Austria and Italy have gathered together to feel themselves closer to God. Walk along this ancient path and become one with the beautiful nature surrounding you and with those who preceded you.
Stages of 'Il Cammino Celeste'
With this video you get an idea of what you can expect and see during the
'Il Cammino Celeste'.
However, please note that this video has been recorded in the reverse order in which the trail generally should be taken. It starts at the final destination Monte Lussari.
This video is meant to give you an idea of the region and some of the places you will visit. However, not all places in this video are on the trail 'cammino celeste', and they also appear in a displayed order.
All the stages in Friuli Venezia
Giulia on a row:
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Barbana - Aquileia
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Aquileia - Aiello del Friuli
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Aiello del Friuli - Cormons
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Cormons - Castelmonte
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Castelmonte - Masarolls
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Massarols - Montemaggiore
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Montemaggiore - Rifugio A.N.A
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Rifugio A.N.A - Prato di Resia
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Prato di Resia - Dogna
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Dogna - Valbruna
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Valbruna - Monte Lussari
15,0 km
16.6 km
18,0 km
23,2 km
25,4 km
22,7 km
15,7 km
21,5 km
13,4 km
27,1 km
11,4 km
210 km
Isola Barbana
Aquileia
Castelmonte
Monte Lussari
WHAT IS THE 'CAMMINO CELESTE'?
The "Cammino Celeste" - "The Blue Walk" is an international religious route that winds between Italy, Austria, and Slovenia, and is designed to unite the pilgrims of these three nations in a special place of prayer as well as the final destination of this walk; the Sanctuary of Monte Lussari. For centuries, this has been a place of pilgrimage where the image of the Virgin Mary is venerated. The walk is also called the "Heavenly Walk' because of the light blue color in which the mother of Jesus, Mary, appears frequently. The often secluded old churches that you will visit, were, throughout the centuries, very important places for the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, where they came together to venerate their holy Mary.
This spiritual walk started in the summer of 2006. For the reconstruction of the old path were used; historical sources, written documents, the location of ancient churches, but also the testimonies of elderly people. While walking on this path you cross the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, from South to Nord, from the sea to the mountains. Due to the slow pace, you can see the landscape changing before your eyes: the lagoon, plains, rivers, towns, vineyards in the wine area of Collio, the valleys with their rivers, the foothills of the Julian Alps, you'll see it all. You pass beside ancient churches where Mary is venerated, you see antique altarpieces and traces of ancient monasteries.
THE ROUTE UNITES THREE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
The entire walk is divided into three tracks, two of which start in the neighboring countries (Slovenia and Austria) and end in this Italian region. The different starting points were and still are of particular importance for the historical and religious traditions of these countries.
You will walk through Aquileia which is recognized as the place where for the first time the Gospel was preached in Northern Italy. It is also the city where the first Patriarch of the region had its headquarters. It was a starting point for missionaries to spread the Christian message in Europe.
In Slovenia, the place Brezje, near Kranj, was chosen as the most important place to worship Mary, while in Austria the Church of Our Lady in Maria Saal, above Klagenfurt, is important for the history of Carinthia and the cultural and religious identity of Mitteleuropa.
The pilgrims that start in one of these three starting points are all coming together in the village Camporosso from where they start the climb that will bring them to the Monte Lussari, at 1760 meters high.
HOW DOES THE WALK LOOK LIKE?
The Italian part of the "Heavenly Road" consists of eleven stages. The walk begins in the sanctuary Barbana which, as the name suggests, is the Barbana island opposite Grado. Then you cross over to the mainland to Aquileia, then on to Cormòns which is situated in the Collio wine region. You continue your route to Castelmonte and Cividale (once the first Duchy of the Lombards in Italy which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2011), then continue towards the GranMonte and valleys of Resia and Dogna to end at the Sanctuary of Monte Lussari.
Friuli Venezia Giulia was and has always been, because of its geographical position," a land of passage" for travelers from all over the world. The walk "Cammino Celeste" is also meant to unite in this modern era different peoples from several countries through this historical pilgrimage.
BOOK ME AS YOUR GUIDE
You can book me for a guided tour in one of the historical places where the trail comes along. Such as Aquileia, once the second Rome with the oldest church of Friuli, or Cividale the first Duchy of the Lombards in Italy and a chapel dating back late 8th century!
I'm not a tour operator or travel agent but a guide so for more information about the heavenly way, please click on the buttons below. Watch the videos to get an idea of what to expect!
