Saint Michael’s Way from Vieste to the Holy Cave

This is the route that the pilgrims of Vieste (the Sammichelari) took and still take to go, during the day of San Michele (September 29), to visit the sacred cave of Monte Sant’Angelo. The path winds for a good 44 km along sheep tracks and mountain paths that cross the Umbra Forest. Two days of intense walking through fascinating panoramas and contrasts between the sea and the mountains, among the woods, the expanses of olive and almond trees in the countryside and the Gargano pastures.

The itinerary was created to be covered on foot, but it can also be done by bike, keeping in mind however that in some sections it will be necessary to get off the bike for opening gates (to be closed diligently, to avoid the animals to escape to the wild pasture), and above all for sections with challenging differences in altitude, especially the ups and downs between Monte Sant’Angelo and the Umbra Forest and a stretch of stony ground in the Vieste wood.