Pray, love, rest: 4 destinations to satisfy the body and spirit

The Sanctuary of Oropa, near Biella, in Piedmont

Not all roads (of faith) lead to Rome which, with over 6 million religious tourists, remains the global hotspot for spiritual tourism. In Italy, a geography understood as made up of sacred places immersed in forests, gorges and mountains waiting to be discovered is necessary. According to the National Tourism Observatory, tourism linked to spiritual paths has recorded a 12% increase in the last two years, driven by travelers who are increasingly looking for destinations where they can find themselves among nature, art and contemplation. The Sanctuary of Oropa, near Biellait is for example one of the oldest Marian complexes in Europe. Cloisters, basilica and guesthouses alternately enter a small sacred village surrounded by mountains at around 1,200 meters above sea level. The complete part of the Sacro Monte di Oropa declared a UNESCO heritage site and is open all year round. The entire interior of the sanctuary is the guardian of the Black Madonna, a professional devotion in recent years and the destination of numerous pilgrimages.

Get on your bike and discover Italy in the open air – laws

The Hermitage of San Colombano in Trambileno, in Trentino Alto Adige

The Hermitage of San Colombano carved into the mountain

The Hermitage of San Colombano, however, seems to be carved into the mountain: it is located in the municipality of Trambileno, a few kilometers from Rovereto (Tn), in an area overlooking the Leno stream. It can be reached by crossing a bridge over the stream and a path that leads to a panoramic staircase of around 100 steps carved into the rock which ends near a small medieval church. Other effects are also possible within the hermit’s cell.

Valadier’s Time in Genga, in the Marche region (Getty Images)

The Temple of Valadier inside a natural cave

The Temple of Valadier, in neoclassical style with an octagonal plan in white travertine and a dome topped by a lead roof, was literally built inside a natural cave in the territory of Genga (An), in the area of the Frasassi Caves, by will of Pope Leo XII in the 19th century. The structure is the total circle as the stone is amplified in itself. The path to reach it takes about 15 minutes uphill.

The Hermitage of Camaldoli, in Tuscany (Getty Images)

Hermitage of Camaldoli, the perfect refuge

The Hermitage of Camaldoli, founded in 1012 by San Romualdo, is located in Poppi (Ar), in Tuscany, among the silver fir woods of the Casentinesi Forest Park and is still inhabited by monks. It is the perfect refuge where you can contemplate between silence and nature, linking art, spirituality and light hiking. In addition to seven altarpieces created by Giorgio Vasari, the place still preserves a library with ancient texts and manuscripts created with the movable type technique. The ancient pharmacy is also worth a visit, where you can find herbal teas and herbal extracts prepared according to traditional recipes. In the surrounding area there are paths suitable even for those who walk little, with outdoor meditation points.