The route of the soul: the Via Francigena in the Sannio Beneventano area

12,8 km

The route starts from Faicchio, located at the foot of the Mount Monaco di Gioia, which some scholars identify as the ancient Samnite town of Faefola, mentioned by Livy. It was conquered in 183 BC by Quintus Fabius Maximus, after whom the two-arched Roman bridge on the Titerno river is named.
In the Norman era it was a fief of Guglielmo Sanframondo, then of Giovanni Mansorio, and finally of the De Martino family, who held it until the abolition of feudalism. After the Unification of Italy, the area was affected by the phenomenon of banditry (1861-1863), as bands of brigands sought shelter in the numerous gorges in the area. 

Not to be missed:

• 4^th-century Samnite fortifications
• Roman Fabius Maximum bridge
• 15^th-century Ducal castle, recently restored
• Church and Convent of San Pasquale
• Roman aqueduct    

The route continues towards S. Salvatore Telesino, which takes its name from the homonymous Benedictine Abbey, founded by the Longobards and recently restored. It achieved great fame and both Ruggero the Norman and Saint Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, were guests of the abbey.
The Grassano Park is well worth visiting. It stretches over an area of over 120,000 sqm, and the Rio Grassano runs through it, providing ample opportunity for water sports.  
On the route leading to the nearby Telese Terme one can admire, as in an open-air museum, remains of the walls of the ancient  town of Telesia, which at the time of the Punic Wars was occupied by Hannibal and then recaptured by Quintus Fabius Maximus, as Livy reports in his Annals.

Not to be missed:

• Abbey of Santissimo San Salvatore
• Remains of Castello della Rocca, a castle built by the Sanframondo family
• Archaeological Area of Ancient Telesia
• "Massimo Rao" Art Gallery

The route continues towards Telese Terme, the most important centre of the Telesina Valley. It is a spa resort famous for its sulphurous-bicarbonate-alkaline springs generated by an earthquake in 1349. The emission of unbreathable, highly sulphurous gases led to people abandoning the original inhabited area and settling in the current location.

Not to be missed:

• Medieval bell tower
• The Spa park
• Telese Lake, on the outskirts of the town, a picturesque body of water and meeting place for nature lovers
• The ancient "Iacobelli" spas

The next section of the Southern Via Francigena route in the Sannio Beneventano area goes through the wine production area of Castelvenere, and follows the valley floor to the church of Santa Maria della Strada.

Travelling times

On foot: 3 hours and 30 minutes
By bike: 2 hours
By car: 20 minutes
Road surface: paved
Difficulty level: easy

15,4 km

We take the Via Appia Traiana, which unfortunately in the first stretch has been overlaid by a new state road, with no alternatives available, and leave it after a few kilometres, to take secondary roads that lead us to the discovery of a rolling, sweet and varied rural landscape, with vineyards, olive groves and pastures as far as the eye can see. With its boundless horizons, the landscape is the main interest of this stage of the itinerary.
We reach Pietrelcina, located on the bend of a tributary of the Tammaro river. This town is famous around the world because of Francesco Forgione, Padre Pio da Pietrelcina, being born here on May 25, 1887. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II.
Pietrelcina, perched on a rocky outcrop, is a rural village of ancient origins that still retains a distinctive charm. It was first mentioned in a document of 1101. Through the centuries the village had different feudal lords, among them the Caracciolo, D'Aquino and Cafara families, and the famous jurist Bartolomeo Camerario. Since the Unification of Italy in1861, it has belonged to the Province of Benevento.

Not to be missed:

• Monastery of the Capuchin Friars with adjoining Museum 
• Church of S. Maria degli Angeli
• Church of S. Anna
• Birthplace of Saint Pio
• The Forgione Farm at Piana Romana, with the elm tree under which the Saint received the Stigmata.

Just off the route, it is worth visiting the Municipality of Cerreto Sannita, a town that was entirely rebuilt after the terrible earthquake of 1688. It still displays the original urban layout and is famous for its traditional production of artistic ceramics.
The first documented news about the origins of the town date back to the 12th century, in the Norman era, when it belonged to the Sanframondo family. It then became a fief of the Carafa family, who kept possession of it until the abolition of feudalism. First annexed to the Province of Terra del Lavoro, after the Unification of Italy it became part of the Province of Benevento.

Not to be missed:

• Urban centre rich in history and architectural heritage of great value and with a very distinctive urban layout
• Cathedral with adjoining Bishop's Palace and Seminary
• Collegiata di S. Martino church overlooking the homonymous square
• Church of S. Gennaro, seat of the Museum of Sacred Art
• Convent of S. Antonio
• Remains of the ancient village of Cerreto and, further down the valley, Roman bridge called Hannibal's Bridge
• Museum of ancient and modern ceramics
• Palazzo del Genio
• The Morgia Sant'Angelo boulder, also called "Lioness"
• Convent and Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie

Well worth a visit is also Guardia Sanframondi, a town of Longobard and Norman origins, which has preserved its characteristic Medieval appearance. The current town was built around the castle commissioned in 1139 by the Norman Raone, founder of the Sanframondo family. Recently restored, the fortress retains its original majesty and grandeur. The village belonged first to the Sanframondo family, until 1483, then to the Carafa family, who kept possession of it until the abolition of feudalism in 1806.
The town is located among the vineyards and olive groves that cover every hill and corner of this territory. This is a land of famous and homonymous wines of controlled origin, which represent the main economic resource of the town. 
The Sanctuary of the Assunta holds, among other works of art, a wooden statue of the Virgin, in honour of which Penitential Rites are carried out every seven years. Because of their great mystical and folkloristic interest, these rites attract tourists and believers from around the world and are also the subject of anthropological studies and research.

Not to be missed:

• Historic centre
• Norman Castle
• Sanctuary - Basilica dell'Assunta
• Basilica of S. Sebastiano
• Municipal museum 

Nearby, set in a green rolling landscape, marked by straight rows of vines as far as the eye can see, is Castelvenere.
Various sites bear witness to the continued presence of human settlements in this area since Prehistoric times.  A famous Longobard centre, it is renowned as the birthplace of Saint Barbatus, Bishop of Benevento, responsible for the conversion of the Longobards to Christianity.
It was a fief first of the Sanframondo and later of the Carafa family, who kept possession of it until the abolition of feudalism. After the Unification of Italy it was annexed to the Province of Benevento. 

Not to be missed:

• Church of S. Nicola 
• Church of Santa Maria della Foresta
• Tufa cellars
• Ancient town centre

Travelling times

On foot: 4 hours
By bike: 1 hour
By car: 40 minutes
Road surface: paved
Difficulty level: medium