The San Vili Pathway ("Il Sentiero di San Vigilio" or di "San Vili") is a long route opened in 1988 by the S.A.T. (Tridentine Alpinists Society) going from Trento to Madonna di Campiglio with an extension of a total of more than one hundred kilometres.
This route is divided into six legs, each of which is a complete excursion in itself.
The name "San Vili" means San Vigilio in the ancient language of the Trentino folk and in fact the pathway follows the footsteps of the route the Saint had pioneered. St. Vigilio was the first saint to face the pathways and mountain trails in 400 A.D. during his evangelisation work. St. Vigilio is a very well known personage in the Trentino-South Tyrol area that indeed has many churches and chapels dedicated to him. First among them, the Trento Cathedral built over a pre-existing temple where the saint was buried.
1. Vela - Laghi Lamar - Covelo |
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Departure from Trento-Vela ("San Vili path" – nr 627); reach Soprassasso (m. 840), the Lamar lakes (m. 740), Covelo, Ciago and Maso Rualt (m. 930) on Monte Gazza; the first stage is Margone at 950 m About 5 hours This stage is hard: somebody start from Monte Terlago of from Ciago, respectively at about 4 or 3 hours.
Altitude: Vela m 195, Soprasasso m 840, Lamar lakes m 714, Prada m 800 circa, Monte Terlago m 695 Height difference: from Vela to Monte Terlago about m 750 Stops: “Ai tre faggi” restaurant at Lamar lakes m 714, public places at Monte Terlago m 695, “Lago di Lamar” campsite - Monte Terlago Time: Vela-Lamar lakes at about 3,30 hours, Lamar lakes-Covelo at about 1 hour |
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| Photo: Trento, the Soprasasso and the Lamar lakes, linked by the first part of the San Vili path,, seen by the Paganella |
2. Covelo - Moline (S. Lorenzo in Banale)
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Departure for Ranzo (m. 740): fascinating little church between Val dei Laghi and Giudicarie, with a plate that shows the tradition of the passing of Vigilio remains; going along the mountain, above the Sarca gorges, till Deggia, with the Marian sanctuary and the plate to "Vigilio Viator"; then going up to S. Lorenzo in Banale, Tavodo and Stenico About 5/6 hours Ranzo is also reachable starting from the Toblino castle, along the valley of Rio Ranzo.
Altitude: Monte Terlago m 695, Covelo m 585, Ciago m 573, Maso Rualt m 930, Margone m 950, Ranzo m740, Deggia m 650, Moline m 540 Height difference: m 400 totally Stops: all bars and inns of the villages along the path, with possibility of overnight stay in Ranzo. Leaving the itinerary, you can reach S. Lorenzo in Banale along about 2 km (30 km from Moline) where there are all the services, the overnight stay and the public transport. Time: Monte Terlago-Ranzo at about 3 hours, Ranzo-Moline at about 2 hours |
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| Photo: along the itinerary from Deggia to S. Lorenzo in Banale, Madonna di Caravaggio sanctuary |
3. Moline (S. Lorenzo in Banale) - Irone (Airone)
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Departure for Iron (m. 871), the village inhabited in the Middle Ages, then become depopulated because of the palgue in 1630 At about 5 hours
Altitude: Moline m 540, valley fissure of the Ambiez river m 500, Tavodo m 601, Stenico m 668, Iron m 871 Height difference: m 300 Stops: in S. Lorenzo - overnight stay and rest stops; bus service to Trento: in the morning at 7 am / in the afternoon at 1 pm. In Tavodo: bus service. In Stenico: hotels and bus service Time: Moline-Tavodo about 1-1,30 hours, Tavodo-Stenico (Sclemo-Seo way) about 1,30 hours, Stenico-Ponte di Lisan about 1-1,30 hours. |
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| Photo: the castle of Stenico, "entrance" of the Giudicarie |
4. Irone (Airone) - Passo Daone (Prà de l'Asen)
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Going up to Montagne and Daone Pass (m. 1.300): some houses, a little altar- church on the "Prà de l'Asen" and the Durmon refuge. About 6 hours
Altitude: Iron m 871, Bolzana m 570, Grotta m 958, Prà de l’Asen about m 1300 Height difference: m 800 Stops: typical restaurant at Daone Pass (Prà de l’Asen), bus service in Ragoli and Montagne Time: from Ponte del Lisan to Iron 0,30 hour. From Iron to Daone Pass (Prà de l’Asen): 6 hours totally |
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| Photo: the Sarca river in Val Rendena and the San Valentino valley |
5. Passo Daone - Pinzolo
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Going down to Val Rendena along the path towards Casarole; from the bridge of Vigo go up to the valley till Fisto, cross the river and reach Spiazzo Rendena (m. 650) and S. Vigilio area , risen on the place that the tradition believes was the area of the Saint’s (see the ruins of the little paleo-Christian church, the walnut pulpit and the painting of Vigilio life by G. M. Pezcoller) Additional stage: coming back to the left of the Sarca river, to reach Bocenago, Caderzone and Pinzolo (cemeterial church of S. Vigilio, with the S. Baschenis frescoes: inside the story of Vigilio, outside the famous "Danza Macabra") About 5/6 hours
Altitude: Vigo Rendena m 610, Fisto m 660, Caderzone m 715, Pinzolo m 780 Height difference: m 200 Stops: villages of Casarole, Vigo Rendena, Pelugo, Ches, Fisto, Bocenago, Caderzone Time: from Daone Pass to Fisto about 1,30 hours. From Fisto to Pinzolo about 2,30 hours |
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| Photo: the ancient pastoral sanctuary of S. Antonio in Pelugo, frescoed by Baschenis (Fifteenth century) at the entrance of Val di Borzago, towards Carè Alto |
6. Pinzolo - Madonna di Campiglio
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Departure for Madonna di Campiglio (m. 1.550) with the wonderful landscape and the Our Lady of the Assumption sanctuary, the main diocese of Trento from the Thirteenth to the Fifteenth centuries About 2 hours
Altitude: Carisolo m 810, Madonna di Campiglio m 1522 Height difference: m 700 Stops: Carisolo, S. Antonio di Mavignola, Pinzolo, Madonna di Campiglio Time: Km 16 – 5 hours |
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| Photo: Rendena, a green island between the Brenta Dolomites and the Adamello glacier |
All infos on:
Focus:
September 1988, Supplemento al "Bollettino della SAT",
nr 2, year LI, where the itinerary has been described and illustrated accurately
