Italy’s Forgotten Monastic Trails Offer Pilgrims a Path Beyond Overtourism
Ancient Paths Rediscovered
As Italy contends with the pressures of overtourism in its major cities and iconic landmarks, a quieter spiritual journey is unfolding in the hills of Lazio and Abruzzo. The Cammino della Santissima Trinità, a network of four walking trails spanning 18 kilometers, has been resurrected by Franciscan nuns to guide pilgrims through landscapes where Benedictine monasticism first emerged in the 6th century.
These trails, long known locally but overlooked by mainstream tourism, wind past pivotal Catholic sanctuaries and relics. Since their official launch three years ago, more than 10,000 devotees have walked the paths, seeking both prayer and respite from crowded tourist corridors.
A Sister Act of Love
The initiative was born in September 2022, just as Italy emerged from strict pandemic restrictions. Anticipating a surge of visitors to Rome’s piazzas and Renaissance abbeys, Sister Katherine Adams and her fellow nuns mapped the trails to offer an alternative: a pilgrimage that blends adventure, spirituality, and community.
Their vision was to create a santo cammino (holy trail) that would reconnect young people and travelers with lesser‑known sacred sites, while encouraging reflection in nature. The trails highlight the enduring role of monasticism in shaping Europe’s spiritual heritage, while offering a counterbalance to the commercialization of religious tourism.
Voices from the Trail
“Visitors rarely know what a sanctuary trail experience in Subiaco or Vallepietra means,” Sister Adams explained. “When they land in Rome, it’s all about crumbling aqueducts, grand piazzas and Renaissance abbeys. But it’s right here that a wealth of sacred relics and challenging hiking experiences converge.”
Her words capture the essence of the pilgrimage: a journey that is as much about rediscovering forgotten landscapes as it is about deepening faith.
Outlook
The Cammino della Santissima Trinità represents a growing movement in Italy to reimagine pilgrimage routes as both cultural and spiritual experiences. By reviving ancient trails, the nuns have created a sanctuary from overtourism—one where devotion, history, and nature converge in harmony.