Trail »connecting three sanctuaries, connecting to ourselves«

Trail that can wake up your senses and reconnect you to the vibe of the natural. The purpose is to walk and connect with nature and sacred places. We will reach main religious centres on western side of Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia on italian side. Castelmonte, Sveta Gora and Marija Celje are all energetic points and places of worship dedicated to Virgin Mary that Friulian, Italian and Slovene people love most. The origins of these sanctuaries are deeply rooted in first Christianity. The route last two days and connects three sanctuaries. It is physically moderately demanding and is also suitable for families.

Meal: in local place

Meeting point: Parking place in Solkan by the bridge to Goriška Brda

Duration: 10 hours * it is to consider to split this hike in two days

Difficulty: moderate, transport from the final point to the beggining it will be organised

Price: til 4 person: 75,00 €/pers, from 5 to 8 pers: 65,00 €/pers

Distance: 34 km

Inquiry

On this journey will embark those who want to get back to yourself. We start from Sveta Gora on the Slovenian side and from there we descend into the Soča Valley. At Kanal, a village on the Soča river with many attractions, we will take an uphill path to the Korada plateau and then to the village of Lig where the church of Marija Celje is located. We will spend the night in Lig (it is necessary to have a sleeping bag with you). In the evening we will join together for a meditation, dinner and time for leisure. The next day we will descend along the old path up to the sanctuary on the Italian side of Castelmonte. The mountain reaches a height of 618 m (2027 feet) and is 7 km from Cividale. It is an early Christian sanctuary, at the beginning dedicated to Sant Michael and afterwards place of veneration of Virgin Mary.  After arriving to the last sanctuary on Castelomnte we will visit the church which is really interesting for its long history. Afterwards we will descend to the town of Cividale where we will visit some places of interest, such as the Lombard Temple. We will discover who the Longobards were and how they managed to consolidate their power on the Apennine peninsula in their march towards the new land. We do not know their language because they did not use the written word. They devoted themselves mainly to sculpture and engraving on stone, and especially to metal parts.

It is a trail with many historical, natural and cultural beautys in the area by the river Soča. We reach three hills and we meet two cultures. From Svet gora (682 m, 2237 feet) we follow to the valley and then up to church Marija Celje and then over the border up to Castelmonte. In Kanal  we will visit also Riko Debenjak Gallery and Memorial Room, Gothic house, Kontrada square, the church of Mary of Assumption with Neptun fontain.

Highlights:

  • visit 3 sancuaries and hear the story of the Black vergin
  • hear stories and legends abotu the area. Discover the remnants of Langobards in this area, and the legend of the Devils bridge in Cividale
  • see the town of Cividale at the end, an important historial center, in first centuries a Roman city and in 6th the first langobard town in Italy.

Important: Bring your sleaping bag!