94 – (ITA STAGE 46) – La Storta – Roma

Place of Departure	LA STORTA
Place of Arrival	ROMA
Length – KM	19,3
Nation of the route	Italy
Region	Lazio
Uphill Gap	200 m
Downhill Gap	340 m
CAI (Diff. Escurs.)	E
Praticability

Stage 46 – La Storta – Rome. It is a short stage but with its own difficulties due to the fact of having to first cross an extremely populated area, then the metropolis of Rome, therefore prevalence of a track on asphalt. But it is the last stage and therefore the most evocative and full of emotions.

From the church of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary you go along the Cassia, paying close attention to traffic. After La Giustiniana continue along the Cassia, up to the Grande Raccordo Anulare of Rome. You then enter the Insugherata Nature Reserve; the city seems distant and the environment is beautiful and interesting from all points of view. From here you can follow two different paths, to reach St. Peter’s Square.

FIRST TRACK (of Monte Mario): turning left you arrive in via Trionfale and then climb Monte Mario up to the astronomical observatory. The gaze can finally embrace Rome and in particular St. Peter’s. Descending Monte Mario, crossing the Clodia ring road and then Viale Angelico, you reach the Portico of San Pietro. This stretch is 10.3 km long.

SECOND TRACK (of Monte Ciocci) which can also be traveled by bike. Leaving the Insugherata Park, we arrive at the Monte Mario railway station where the cycle and pedestrian path awaits us. Follow the beautiful track, always occupying strictly the part reserved for pedestrians up to Monte Ciocci, from where you can admire St. Peter’s, the Vatican and all of Rome. You descend from the hill along the winding road, if by bike, or using the steep staircase, if on foot. Then the walls of the Vatican and finally the Portico of San Pietro. This section is 9.2 km long.

46 – Points of Interest

The Seven Churches: One of the most famous devotional practices of the Romei pilgrims was the “Tour of the Seven Churches”. The first news of the cult of the Seven Churches in Rome dates back at least to the seventh century when Saint Begga, returning to live as a hermit in her country, on her return from her pilgrimage to Rome, wanted to erect, in addition to her own, six other oratories that gave the name to the monastery of “Sept-Eglises”. However, it is with the institution of the Jubilees starting from 1300 and in particular from the second half of the 14th century that the lists of indulgences indicate the seven basilicas where these could be profited. In this way, a use is consolidated that will be resumed to give them other and new religious meanings in line with the trends of the Counter-Reformation in progress. With the recitation, during the pilgrimage, of the seven penitential psalms, the forgiveness of the seven deadly sins was invoked and the seven virtues contrary to them were asked, meditating on the seven main stages of Jesus during the Passion, the seven shedding of the blood of Christ, the seven words of Christ on the cross, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments, the seven works of mercy. The practice soon achieved a wide consensus and an influx of pilgrims to the point that by Sixtus V it was included in 1586 in a broader design of penitential practices. In its original form it consists of a ring route of about 20 km that touches the main churches of Rome; the first four are the Major Papal Basilicas:

• Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano
• Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
• Basilica of San Paolo fuori le mura
• Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
• Basilica of San Lorenzo outside the walls
• Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
• Sanctuary of the Madonna del Divino Amore (from the Jubilee of 2000, in place of the Basilica of San Sebastiano outside the walls)

Originally it took a full day to complete the tour, from the first Vespers of the day, to the first of the following day. Later the visit was carried out in two days, dedicating the first to the basilica of St. Peter alone and the second to the other six starting from the basilica of San Paolo Fuori Le Mura to the north and in an anti-clockwise direction to end at the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Via delle Sette Chiese, formerly known as via Paradisi, covers a path rich in historical evidence from the early years of Christianity with numerous catacombs.

please, see the Official Guide of the Via Romea Germanica (www.guidaromea.eu)

How to arrive

Roma-Ciampino airport (www.http://www.adr.it/ciampino) > shuttle from Ciampino to Termini FS Railway Station; Roma-Fiumicino airport (www.http://www.adr.it/fiumicino) > shuttle from Fiumicino FS Railway Station to Termini FS Railway Station

TRAIN – Tiburtina/Termini/Ostiense FS Railway Station to La Storta FS Railway Station

Where to eat

Typical Dishes = Più famosi

Typical Dishes = Movingitalia

Typical Dishes = Noi di Roma

Bike Service

Roma Rent Bike	Via di San Paolo alla Regola,33 – 00186 ROMA	06-88922365
Point Bike	Via Attaliana,82 – 00168 ROMA	06-3050888
F&A Rent	Via del Galoppatoio,33 – 00197 ROMA	06-32650383
La Bicicletta	Viale Angelico,157 – 00195 ROMA	06-37513938

Pilgrim Service

Pietro Labate – Authorized Guide	Via delle Monache, 3 – 01100 VITERBO	349-4409855	pietrusco@thesantrekking.it	www.thesan.net
Luggage Transport	Via del Castro Pretorio, 32 –  ROMA	366-2676760	booking@bags-free.com	www.bags-free.com