The Mountain Sacredness
The Ancient Trail of the Pilgrims from Novi Velia to Mt. Gelbison
- Trail Conditions: On foot
- Interest: Flora, Wildlife, Geology, Panorama, Religion
- Departure: Novi Vellia (648m)
- Arrival: Santuario del Monte Gelbison (1,706m)
- Duration: 8 hour/s
- Difficulty Level: E - Hiking (level)
- Length: 7 km
- Difference in height: 1,058m
- Recommended Period: from April to October
Where the Mountain is Sacred, where you find one of the most visited sanctuaries of the whole Campania region, Madonna di Novi Sanctuary, there is the possibility to walk along one of the many trails, the most significant one, leading to the summit of Mt. Gelbison. Gelbison is an Arabic term meaning "the Mountain of the Idol": as a matter of fact, this mountain was sacred before the Basilian Monks founded the sanctuary on its summit in the 10th century.
The sacredness of the places can already be felt at the beginning of the trail where, surrounded by thick and charming vegetation, torrent Torna flows jumping here and there among sandstone boulders, forming a series of ponds and small waterfalls.
You can also feel it at "Sorgente di Fiumefreddo", where the ever-clear and cool water springs near a representation of the Virgin Mary. Finally, you can also feel it in the upper stretch of the trail, where two big stacks of stones with a cross on the summit, the so-called "Monti di Pietà", remind us the devotion of the ancient people.
