17. Romagnese to Bobbio

610

Viewing Point

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The arrival of a pilgrimage is always emotional, especially when, after a last obstacle, the vision finally opens up to this long-awaited destination. The arrival at Bobbio by the summits fully meets this aspiration.

An ascent in the forest to reach the highest point of the Italian route (1040m) before descending into the mountain meadows towards the Trebbia valley and the final destination of the route of Saint Colomban where he founded his last abbey around 613.

6 points of interest

Chiesa di San Lorenzo
Cultural
Church of St. Lawrence
The baroque church dates back to the first half of the 17th century. It preserves beautiful frescoes inside. Many oratories depend on the parish around Romagnese.
Chiesetta degli Alpini
Cultural
Church to the Dead of San Lorenzo
Small chapel dedicated to the Italian mountain troops who meet there on the last Sunday of July.
Bobbio - Amis St Colomban
Panoramic
Viewpoint on Bobbio
Viewpoint on Bobbio and the Trebbia Valley
Castello Malaspina Dal Verme
Historical
Castle Malaspina dal Verme
Built in 1304 by Corradino Malaspina, next to the Basilica of St. Peter, this castle was designed to be a military fortress. In 1341, it became the property of the Visconti family. In 1436, it was transferred to the Dal Verme family, who transformed the castle into a prestigious residence. In the 17th century, the castle was bought by the Della Cella family who kept it until 1956, when it was sold to the state.
St Columban
Testimonium
The Testimonium is a certificate issued to every pilgrim who has completed at least the last 143 kilometres between the Basilica of Sant'Eustagio in Milan and the tomb of Saint Columban. To obtain it, the pilgrim presents his credential or passport with stamps and dates of the stages completed on his journey.

Address where to obtain the Testimonium:
Casa del Pellegrino Sant'Antonio Maria Gianelli
piazza San Colombano, 3
29022 Bobbio

Please inform us in advance:
+39 (0) 523 076 062

chirackal.rosa@gmail.com
Abbazia San Colombano
St Columban
Abbey of Sant Colomban
The abbey was founded by Saint Colomban in 614. Throughout the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important monastic centres in Europe, a kind of Montecassino in northern Italy between the 7th and 12th centuries: in fact, its famous Scriptorium had in its catalogue in 982 more than 700 codices which, after dispersion in other libraries, holds 25 of the 150 oldest Latin literature manuscripts in the world. The crypt of the abbey preserves the tomb of Saint Colomban.

Description

From the church square, reach the main street of Romagnese by via Roma and go down on the left this road SP412 until the first yaw junction on the right :

Turn right on this road towards Parco Naturale Pietra Corva. It goes down to the bridge that crosses the Torrente Tidone and then climbs in turns to the top. Some shoelaces can be cut on foot to shorten the distance: at the second shoelace, take the path on the left that avoids the hamlet of La Cascina. Again on the road to Grazzi Inferiore, cut through the village taking the alley on the left after the first houses (strada per Grazzi). Again on the road, follow it to the church and take the stone path that passes to the left of the church and reaches Grazzi Superiore.
Once on the road, turn right and two houses further on, turn left on the next road that crosses the village. After a wooded area that ends at the level of a stream, take the path on the right that borders the stream, crosses it to find the road below Praticchia. Turn right on the road, always following the Pietra Corva signs. At the end of the road at a forest inn, continue at the end of the car park and take the signposted path Sentiero Cai 201 to a pass (1020m).
At the pass, take the Cai 101 trail which climbs to an altitude of 1040m, the highest point. At this level, turn left onto the Cai Pian Peduto path, which gradually descends into the forest and then exits above Casa Sigala before reaching the SS461.
Turn left on this road until the first junction on the right. Go down the small road to the houses of Croce. Take the path to the isolated house on the far left and then go down south, passing by the Oratorio della Beata Vergine di Caravaggio to find a tarred road further down. Go down this road to the next houses (Casa Poggio) above the village of Santa Maria.
Turn left and turn into a winding road. At the next crossroads at the exit of Santa Maria, turn left and go down this road that leads to the SP461. Turn right and continue until you reach the hamlet of Valle.
After the sharp bend in this hamlet, turn left onto the stone path in a ridge line that goes down towards Bobbio (strada di Squera). Go back to the Bobbio suburbs until you meet the SP461 again.
Cross this road and follow Via Maiolo opposite until the second street on the left (Via dei Mulini) which leads to the abbey, the final destination point with the tomb of Saint Colomban.

Departure : Church of San Lorenzo, 27050 Romagnese
Arrival : Abbey of San Colombano, Piazza San Colombano, 29022 Bobbio
Towns crossed : Lombardia and Emilia-Romagna