The Via Degli Abati (The Abbots’ Way)

 

This is a very old route dating between the 7th and 11th centuries going from Bobbio to Pontremoli.  It was used by abbots and religious travelling to Rome from the monastery founded in Bobbio by the Irish saint, St Columbanus.  Bobbio is also his burial place.  The route is about 125 kms long and after Pontremoli  the Via Francigena would have been followed to Rome.

 

Four passes of the Appenines have to be crossed - passi di Sella dei Generali, Linguadà, Santa Donna and Borgallo.  The passes vary from between 1000 and 1400 meters high.  Places passed through include Coli (nearby is the cave where St Columbanus is reputed to have died), Gropallo, Bardi and Borgotaro.

 

There are also attempts to link this route to Pavia to provide an alternative to the current Via Francigena (some people consider the stretch between Pavia and Fidenza boring).  Detailed information is to be published soon but the following was provided by Maria Bellini who is closely involved with the Abbots’ Way.  The route will likely be through Pavia-Voghera- Oramala-Passo Penice-Bobbio.  The main safety problem is the Po river bridge: you cannot walk on the Ponte della Becca bridge, east of Pavia.  The proposed route offers safety on the bridge of Bressana Bottarone.  From Pavia to Bressana bridge and from there to Voghera mainly country roads are used. From Voghera the old railway is used, and then many nice secondary roads and tracks, without busy roads until Bobbio.  Also a small hostel close to Passo Penice is being organised.

 

One of our members is researching the Bobbia to Pontremoli route, including walking it and we are grateful to him for the information below.

 

Via degli Abati south from Gropallo to Borgo val di Taro (about 42 kms)

This was along the route of the Abbots’ Way Race which runs 117km in the opposite direction, Pontremoli to Bobbio.

There are tricky spots if you walk in the opposite direction to the race.

 

Unfortunately part of the most likely historic route is along asphalt roads, that are hard on the feet so there are deviations to avoid this. The deviations along tracks in the forests are very pleasant but wilder and feel even more medieval than the asphalt roads, so that change is very positive.  There are also stretches along stone walls that are obviously very old.

 

Between Bardi and Borgo val di Taro you are walking along a well preserved old road that was suddenly impossible to use by horse and cart due to a landslide and replaced completely by a new road on the opposite side of the valley.

 

He walked most of the time away from roads and traffic, shaded by trees and on two occasions heard the grunt of wild boars in the dense undergrowth about 20m away!

 

There is a proper map of the Via degli Abati that is soon to be published.

 

Our member reports that the via degli Abati is walkable NOW and not difficult to find. It is a pleasant way to avoid the roads on the Po plain around Piacenza and after.  The price to pay is five-six steep stretches, but the rewards are then nice walks along ridges 1000m above sea level with falcons soaring above you.

 

The race route crosses a modern bridge in Farini, but if you want to be "historic" you can save 3-4km walking by fording the river Nure, which is possible to do in the summer to early autumn and his research project at the next visit.

 

Our member is researching accommodation along the route, there are both Hotels, B&B and Agroturismo farms. They or the local churches are not prepared/educated about long distance pilgrims yet. The Partisans managed to hide from the Germans in the forests, so wild camping is not a problem as long as you do not erect your tent on top of the wild boar's favorite truffel patch!

 

A historical note, the German HQ for the area was in Berceto, that is on the classic Via Francigena just before Passo della Cisa and Pontremoli.

 

Note also the warning about water - between Bardi and Borgo avl di Taro there were only two taps during 30km and one was damaged.

 

Further details will be published in due course

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