Path of Saint Enrico from Bolzano
HISTORY
The story of
Saint Enrico, Arrigo or Heinrich was revisited and proposed to the Christian and civil communities on the occasion of the celebrations organized in 2015 by the dioceses of Treviso and Bolzano for the seventh centenary of the death of the respective patron, Saint Enrico da Bolzano, the whose remains have been venerated for seven centuries in the cathedral of Treviso.
An apparently minor saint, a pilgrim, first a woodcutter and then an urban pilgrim, a man of penance and charity, whose memory has been preserved for centuries among the people of the northern Alps and the Veneto, where he is venerated as the patron saint of
winemakers and woodcutters .
He arrived towards the end of the 13th century in Treviso, where he died with a reputation for sanctity in 1315. Upon his death the bells of the city of Treviso rang spontaneously in unison and the influx of people to his tomb was enormous. The event had resonance well outside the city limits, so much so that it was cited by
Boccaccio in his works. The numerous miracles that occurred post-mortem, including some to people from Valsugana, were diligently recorded by the notaries of Treviso in texts still preserved today in the chapter library.
THE ROUTE
The
250 kilometer route in 10 stages connects Bolzano to Treviso, via Trento, Borgo Valsugana, Bassano, Castelfranco, with an extension along the Via Claudia Augusta towards Altino-Torcello-Venice, a major hub of medieval pilgrimage routes.
An itinerary along the great
Adige, Brenta and Sile rivers which combines the charm of the mountain, hill, lake, river and lagoon landscapes unites that with history and beauty of the villages and cities passed trough, of churches, castles, convents and ancient hospitals places along the way.
Look at the map of the complete route
REASONS TO WALK THIS PATH
- The changeability of the landscape is one of the features of this journey: The pilgrim begins his journey in Bolzano, crowned by the Alps, to arrive in Altino immersed in the lagoon landscape, crossing the Adige valley, the Brenta valley, the hills of the Venetian PreAlps, the Sile springs natural park, the Ostiglia cycle and pedestrian path.
- The route is partly unpaved and partly follows cycle paths or modest country roads and is integrated into the network of great paths: in Altino with the Via Romea "strata" and in Castelfranco with the Pfad of Antonio.
- The time needed to travel is approximately 10 days.
- The interconnection with the Brenner Verona and Trento Venice railway lines is an added value of the route: it is possible, in fact, given that the route is almost entirely parallel to the railway lines, to easily reach both Bolzano or Treviso by train, as well as the intermediate stages such as Trento, Levico, Borgo Valsugana, Bassano or Castelfranco Veneto.
- An experience rich in history that lets you breathe different atmospheres through the lands of South Tyrol, Trentino and Veneto: starting from Heinrichof, Enrico's farm in Bolzano, passing through Trento and arriving in Treviso along the vineyards of South Tyrol, continuing immersed in the greenery of Lagorai through Valsugana, the first destination in Italy to obtain certification for sustainable tourism, visiting Bassano with its bridge, Castelfranco with its walls and Giorgione's altarpiece, then arriving at the cathedral in Treviso, crossing its splendid historic center to then continue along the banks of the Sile to the lagoon, to Altino and Torcello.
THE ROUTE IN VALSUGANA
THE COMPANY OF SAINT ENRICO AND THE PILGRIM'S PASSPORT
The Santiago company of Saint Enrico da Bolzano is a lay association of pilgrims, based in Castelfranco V.to (TV).
The Company, in the spirit of Christian values and the culture of pilgrimage routes promoted by the Confraternity of San Jacopo, operates in the territory, in synergy with the bodies and associations involved, in order to activate historically plausible pilgrimage routes at a local level, sustainable and of landscape interest, in particular the path of Saint Enrico of Bolzano. For information on the Company's activities and on the Path of Saint Enrico, consult the website,
www.compagniasantiagobeatoenrico.it or write to
info@compagniasatiagobeatoenrico.it
The pilgrim's passport is a document issued free of charge which must always accompany the pilgrim during his journey.
The pilgrim's passport of the Path of Saint Enrico (such as information relating to itineraries and travel methods) are issued by a delegate of the Company of Santiago and Saint Enrico
Pilgrims must bring the completed form which can be downloaded from this link
www.compagniasantiagobeatoenrico.it/credenziali
SIGNAGE
From repeated explorations of the route it has been possible to note, especially in the stretch of the Adige valley and the Brenta Canal, a notable anthology of more or less official indications, often overlapping, sometimes in a not very good state of maintenance and sometimes such as to generate confusion.
For some parts, however, the paths are already well traced, such as the Ezzelini path, so in such cases the guide simply recommended following the relevant indications.It was therefore not considered appropriate to superimpose other indications on those already existing, specifying, in the descriptive part of the various stages, any arrows to follow among the existing ones. Only for some stretches, as part of the Bassano Castelfranco and Castelfranco Treviso stages, are we taking steps to add some simple indications, the logo of which will be shown on the website of the company of Santiago and Saint Enrico. The GPS track will also be available on the same site
www.compagniasantiagobeatoenrico.it