Pope to Puglia – Day 4 Sermoneta to Abbazzia Fossanova 28 km

Posted byEdward and PaulaPosted inUncategorized

We are falling into familiar patterns.  Edward worries about logistics, navigation, supply lines, conquering the next hill, destinations.  Paula collects ceramic shards, some of which may be the remains of Etruscan urns, porcupine quills and, recently, parts of concertina wire fencing whose significance will remain unknown. 

After 9 hours of walking, at km 28 of our journey when we should have arrived at our destination, we realize that we had taken a wrong turn; we were still 7 KM away from our end point and it was getting dark.   We decided to hitch hike.  Very quickly a car stopped, the driver asked, “Where do you want to go?”, when we told him he merely noted “That is a long way, get in.” Vincenzo, the driver, recounted his adventures on Il Camino di Campostella, the Via di San Francesco; he had been on many pilgrimages.  When we arrived we were very grateful and offered to pay to which he replied “Ci mancherebbe altro. Il Camino provides” as he drove off.    

We arrive at the Cistercian Abby of Fossanova, the place where St Thomas Aquinas died in 1274.   The  Abby is austere, Cistercians did not believe in any decorations or “fantasies” except crucifixes.  We logged in the tower over the entrance gate, a welcome respite after a long day

12 thoughts on “Pope to Puglia – Day 4 Sermoneta to Abbazzia Fossanova 28 km”

  2. I understand the abbey itself does not accommodate pilgrims. Did you sleep under the stars? poor st Thomas got sick and died there. His scull is still there, the rest is somewhere else. Beautiful vistas. Nice people.

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  3. ”Il Camino provides”….I love the community, history, and simple generosity imbued in that statement. 
    Over here we were wearing weird glasses and staring at the sun for over an hour 😎🌗

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