Circolo Culturale Navarca Andrea Bellavite, Marco Bregant, Tiziana Perini

THE HEAVENLY WAY on foot from to Monte Lussari What is the Heavenly Way On foot from Aquileia to Monte Lussari

he Heavenly Way is a heart of Europe. pilgrimage founded through –– one in : Brezje, near theT initiative of a group of people Kranj, the most important place belonging to different associations of prayer to the Mother of God and united by being pilgrims, men in Slovenia. and women who set out physically –– one in : Maria Saal, to achieve a spiritual goal. above , a beautiful It is a Way that links three church dating back to about the different villages and consists eighth century, a place of great of many paths that originate in importance for the history of particularly significant places for and the cultural and the history and tradition of faith in religious identity of Central our lands: Europe.

–– one in : Aquileia, where The three paths, starting from their for the first time the Gospel respective places of origin, come was proclaimed and from together at Camporosso, and then where missionaries took the climb up Monte Lussari, reaching its Christian message into the summit 1760 metres above sea level.

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Aquileia, Patriarchal Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta The Italian branch Friuli Venezia Giulia recounts itself

rom the sea came Mark, the almond. Scent of fried fish through evangelist, according to legend, the narrow streets, stone steps, basil Fand from the sea the Way begins. at the windows. From water to land, from far to You leave the island, tied with near. Now, here. gossamer to the terra firma, and Each stage is a vertebra. skim the beginning of this little Following the Way means building journey in Friuli. You rise up up a small spine of Friuli Venezia beating your wings to a rhythm, Giulia. you follow the wing and see rising, 1 Soldering part to part: waves, from the azure mist of the lagoon, in the fragment of a mosaic. You bread, salami and good wine in lower, sand, brackish earth. Wind, the outline of the island of Barbana. cross the countryside: you enter the every tavern (a spray displayed in the distance a seagull (a cocâl) But you’re already further on, plain. The flat plain, interspersed outside: the fresher the leaves are, that screeches. in that beautiful city that was with fields, lines of trees and roads. the younger the wine). Terra firma, floating among the conquered by the Romans and A gurgle of springs and fountains. From the second day the outline waves: Grado. then destroyed by Attila and by Villages, many villages, which all of the landscape ripples: hills, soft, Dam, rocks – sails in the port, the inexorable passage of time: look the same, but change: in their as the wine is sweet from those quiet – the basilica scented of Aquileia. language, different sounds of Friuli. generous grapes. The Cormonese incense and Christ in his colour It is all to be discovered, even Scent of polenta, once, today: hills, caskets of vineyards. And we

4 5 upside down, the path taken. The Heavenly Way is Friuli Venezia Giulia recounting itself in the silence of the steps, white spaces between written lines.

2 3 4 go in towards Castelmonte: Mary’s and paths. mountain. The hills are soft signs And so on until you cross lands on the horizon and the villages are that head to the Val di Resia. smaller, some scattered cottages. Another world, another language, First taste of little woods, still kept another culture. Enchanted places under control by man. where the water fairies (agane in Entering the Natisone Valleys: Friuli and Krivapete in the Natisone a change of language, culture and Valleys) become foxes, as in Japan. landscape. Wildness advancing. Then a wrench. 5 6 You go back down to the ducal From the woods to the road, the 1. Aquileia, basilica presbytery (south hall) city, Cividale del Friuli, bejewelled main artery to the North. The noises 2. Grado, Sant’Eufemia Basilica with the emerald water of the are so strong, after days of rustling 3. Isle of Barbana Natisone. Enjoy Forum Iulii: it is and secrets songs. All around, a 4. Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Castelmonte 5. Cividale del Friuli, River Natisone the last historic town area that you rising of rocks and outlines, the 6. Val Resia will encounter, for there will follow mountains stand out: stronger, 7. Shrine on Monte Lussari woods and more woods. more rugged. The last stretch before From there you go back towards reaching the destination, Lussari. hills interspersed with a few small And from there, from the top, localities, suspended amid leaves if you close your eyes, you can see, 7

6 7 1 2 4 5 1. Spring, buds let them finish no later than the –– Foam mat. It weighs next to 2. Summer, fields in flower 3. Autumn, harvest early afternoon. nothing, and often becomes 4. Pilgrims on their way useful for lying down outdoors or 5. Pilgrims in rainwear Recommended equipment: the for emergency accommodation. pilgrim’s kit –– Inflatable pillow. In many places there is no pillow. –– Backpack. Weight and size –– Dress. Light things, if possible according to your own possibilities. climbing gear and linen and Prefer backpacks with external towels in micro-fibre. Don’t 3 pockets. If you do not use a forget a hat or cap. Technical notes on the route and of each pilgrim. dromedary cape, a backpack cover –– Shoes. Given that you walk some suggestions for rain becomes indispensable. along the Way, we recommend Some tips: –– Cape. Possibly the “dromedary” type, hiking boots or hiking shoes, When to go: from late May to –– in summer the sun beats down which also protects the backpack plus a pair of hiking sandals September approximately. At what hard, so you have to take without it raining “in the middle”. always, for the parts in the plain. pace: everyone has their own pace. advantage of the cool morning –– Sleeping Bag. Preferable to the –– Knife. A multi-purpose one is Each person must measure it based hours. The classic starting time sleeping sheet (there are shelters helpful. on how they feel. ranges from 6 to 6:30 am. well above 1200 metres). –– Lanyard or string. 7 or 8 metres The length of the stages is a choice –– do not make the stages too long; –– Mattress. Possibly an inflatable one. can be useful for many purposes.

8 9 1 2 3 Medicinal plants that can be the peripheral circulation, and the Further, on the edges of the interesting for its ancient uses found during the pilgrimage ash that combats gout. trails, there are yarrow, suitable for (thirst quencher, diuretic, bringer Often at the edge of the woods menstrual disorders, bramble and of vitamin C) and more modern Owing to the fact that the you can see hawthorn bushes (which its blackberries, which can contain ones (related to the gynaecological Heavenly Way takes you up the is used in the form of infusion or active ingredients that assist sphere). mountains, there are numerous decoction as an effective hypnotic therapies against diabetes. In the mountain grasslands, strips of vegetation that you meet sedative and brings down blood In the cool clearings it is easy finally there are lady’s mantle, on the route. pressure), and viburnum, which is a to find strawberries, a refreshing cumin and trollius, centuries-old The forest area of Friuli Venezia powerful anti-asthmatic. fruit and gynaecological remedy of folk medicine remedies. Giulia is extremely rich in species of In more or less sunny meadows modern plant therapy. 1. Conifer Wood great arboreal and therapeutic value. it is easy to find juniper, an Then going up you can locate 2. Crataegus monogyna (hawthorn) The key element of the mountain antiseptic of the airways, a diuretic mountain indicators like gentian, 3. Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) plant landscape are the beech woods and a blood thinner; chicory and a widely known species favouring which are an energetic draining and dandelion, considered to be among appetite and digestion; and, in the diuretic element. the best known liver drainers; presence of red spruce, blueberries There is, however, also the fennel, effective against swelling and raspberries, the former a hornbeam, which is the tree for a sore and gastrointestinal disorders; and remedy for various things, especially throat accompanied by a cough, the lemon balm, the natural anxiolytic for the gastrointestinal system and chestnut that is a potent activator of par excellence. for eyesight, the latter extremely

10 11 It is an important document: the credential can be used in the “delivering the credential” in practice same way, having stamps put on it, means “ensuring, at least morally, in the halting places and elsewhere. that the person who uses it is a real The credential can be picked up pilgrim”, and will know how to in Aquileia (at Andrea Ghiretti’s behave, from all points of view. It is a Souvenir Aquileia shop, Via minimum guarantee for anyone who Patriarca Popone 2, +39 0431 has expressed his or her willingness 919045, souvenir.aquileia@libero. to give hospitality to pilgrims. it) or at the souvenir shop at the In this connection, as for other Basilica and, in case of necessity, 3 paths, the use of some of the also at Aiello del Friuli at the accommodations and facilities may Navarca Club (circolonavarca@ not be available to those who are libero.it). deprived of this document. In can also be downloaded from The credential also has another the website www.camminoceleste. purpose: to certify that the Way eu at the page Accommodation and was actually taken. In the case useful info. of the Heavenly Way there is no The credential is given to pilgrims

“Compostela”, at least not yet; but after they fill in a special form, to 4 1 sign and hand over to the employee. 1. The Pilgrim’s Credential The Credential And with a recommendation to 2. Souvenir Aquileia read this sheet carefully. 3. Souvenir at the Basilica As for the Santiago Way and other The delivery modalities, however, 4. Aquileia, mosaic (north hall) paths, for the Heavenly Way too a may change in the future, so watch credential has been provided. for the info that you will find on The Credential is the document www.camminoceleste.eu. whose primary function is to attest “Records of pilgrims” have also that the traveller is a pilgrim and been prepared, which have been not a hiker or a tourist. distributed at hospitality points. 2

12 13 The Slovenian branch and the Austrian branch of the Heavenly Way Three peoples, one faith

he Slovenian branch of the through Klagenfurt, Maria Worth, Way starts from the popular Arnoldstein and Coccau. shrineT of Mary of Succour in Brezje, Maria Saal is twinned with about 45 km north of Ljubljana. Aquileia and the two towns are also Mostly along tracks and cycle joined by a pilgrimage route on foot, paths, in about 80 km you climb a tested route, alive. from about 500 metres above sea This is one more reason to level at the departure place to the consider the two branches of the Rateče Pass (Fusine) at 850 metres, Heavenly Way as “a single way,” or and subsequently go down to rather part of a great journey that Tarvisio and from there reach the ties all the holy places. trailhead of the Pilgrim and make The Slovenian and Austrian the final climb to Monte Lussari. branches of the Heavenly Way are It’s a simple route, not very tiring, not yet equipped to be taken in an suitable for walkers/pilgrims of all organized way. All updates on the ages in good physical condition. evolution of their state are available, The Austrian branch of the however, on the site of the Heavenly Heavenly Way takes pilgrims Way: www.camminoceleste.eu. from Maria Saal to Monte Lussari

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Tarvisio, sanctuary on Monte Lussari The Heavenly Way joins Aquileia, the titular place of a glorious patriarchate with Stampato su carta riciclata a thousand-year history, to Monte Lussari, 100% biodegradabile in the heart of the Julian Alps, on top of which a Marian Shrine was built; about 200

kilometres long, it takes about ten days to go along, mainly on tracks, country lanes and mountain trails. The Way allows the hiker to enjoy the enchanting landscape of Friuli Venezia Giulia in all its transformations, from the sea to the mountains. Initiative implemented within interregional tourist development project as per Law 296/2006 – art.1 par. art.1– 296/2006 par. Law per as project development tourist within interregional implemented Initiative Departmentthe by funded Faith paths), (Faith itineraries – fede” Cammini di – fede della “Itinerari – 1227 office. Prime Minister’s and competitiveness, tourism development for

Agenzia Turismo Friuli Venezia Giulia Villa Chiozza, Via Carso 3 – 33052 Cervignano del Friuli (Ud) T. +39 0431 387111 – F. +39 0431 387199 [email protected] – Info: +39 0431 387130