Stage 4: Stia to Camaldoli

Stia to Camaldoli

Pilgrims climb out of the valley on quiet roads until they reach a jewel of Tuscany, one of Europe’s largest national parks. The pristine and thickly wooded Casentinesi Forests National Park creates the feeling of mysteries being unveiled with each step. Pilgrims will hike up quiet roads and wooded trails until reaching a fork in the road just before Valagnesi.

Choose the official and calmer route to the Benedictine Monastery in Camaldoli (Monastero di Camaldoli) or the more challenging alternate route to the mountain hermitage Sacro Eremo di Camaldoli. Either choice will feel like magic.

Stage 3: Consuma to Stia

Stage 5: Camaldoli to Badia Prataglia

GPX Maps

We strongly recommend pilgrims use offline GPX to navigate the trails.

AllTrails: Open GPX Stage 4 >

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Quick Glance

Start:
Stia, Pizzeria Da Vincenzo

Finish:
Camaldoli, Monastero di Camaldoli

Distance:

17.5 km

(10.9 mi)

Travel Time:
6 hours

Total Ascent:
910 meters

Total Descent:
583 meters

Trail Surface:
Forest trail, Casentinesi Forest, Uphill

Trail Signs:
Red/White tags and yellow Taus painted on trees, signs and rocks.

Water Sources:
Water points available throughout trail. Use filter.

Food:
No food between Stia and Camaldoli. Coop market in Stia is final market before La Verna. Pilgrims can find meals at Rifugio Asqua, Camping Camaldoli and Cafè del Parco in Camaldoli.

Navigation Notes:
Official route goes directly to Camaldoli Monastery. Pilgrims can take alternative route the Sacro Eremo di Camaldoli.

Services at Stage Destination:
Restaurants, shop for souvenirs at Antica Farmacia in Monastery of Camaldoli

Quick Links

Preparation

Hermitage Sacro Eremo di Camaldoli has a cluster of hermit cells with the church for common prayer. Photo by Camaldoli Monastic Community

Today is an opportunity to experience the sacredness and purity of the Foreste Casentinesi national park. The first third of the trail (6km) follows sleepy mountain roads and trail shortcuts before entering the Foreste Casentinesi national park.

Book accommodations before leaving Stia. Lodging at the Monastery often fills up. Nearby Camping Camaldoli provides tents to pilgrims outside village limits. Know that if you opt for the alternative route that visits the mountain hermitage (Eremo di Camaldoli), you’ll be walking a couple more hours before arriving at lodging in or near the village.

Stage 4 Highlights

Foreste Casentinesi National Park
Rifugio Asqua, Asqua
Eremo di Camaldoli, Camaldoli
Monastery of Camaldoli (Monastero di Camaldoli), Camaldoli

Difficulty

Today’s walk is the most challenging so far, as you’ll be climbing most of the day. The official route is less strenuous than the alternative route to the mountain hermitage.

Microclimate

Temps cool off once you leave the valley and climb into the forest. Expect the climbing to push up your body temperature.

Navigation

The opportunity to choose the alternate route to visit the mountain hermitage (Eremo di Camaldoli) comes before Valagnesi. Pay attention to your GPX.

Food

Water is available, but there is no food between Stia and Camaldoli. Make sure to get snacks at the Coop market in Stia. Camaldoli features some roadside restaurants.

Step-By-Step Instructions & Itinerary

Pilgrims walk through thick forest of Casentinesi national park. This section is well-known for forest bathing.

Step-By-Step: Stage 4

Strong Recommendation: Use the official GPX files in addition to these instructions to not miss any turns. As signs are sparse, it can be easy to miss one.

Starting from the southeastern outskirts of Stia, take trail 72, which initially follows the road towards the New Cemetery, passing by the Franciscan Chapel of the Stigmata (from which the logo of the Cammini di Francesco in Casentino is taken).
After passing Podere Querceto and Poggiolo, trail 72 coincides briefly with the communal road up to Lonnano, where you pass by the Parish Church (at 680 meters).
At approximately 2.5 km from Lonnano, cross the Lavandaia ditch (at 570 meters) and then climb up to 650 meters, where the trail meets the road from the town of Casalino. (For the route variant towards the Hermitage and then Monastery, see below).
Continue uphill, keeping to the right at the fork leading to Valagnesi, and cross the small village of Case Digonzano (at 650 meters), where the trail becomes a white dirt road again.
After a panoramic stretch of 2 km, finally enter the forest, climbing steep hairpin bends up to 850 meters at Asqua, which is 7 km from Lonnano.
From Asqua, trail 72 continues along the dirt road for about 2.5 km until it meets the asphalt road again. Follow the trail markers of the Via di Francesco downhill for a few dozen meters until you reach the Monastery of Camaldoli.

Alternative Routes

Casalino to Eremo di Camaldoli

To visit the active hermitage Eremo di Camaldoli, deviate from the official route at Casalino.

Once you return to asphalt road at Casalino – before reaching Valagnesi – walk uphill to the left until you meet the trail markers of trail 76, Via dei Legni.
The trail continues uphill until reaching the panoramic point of Prato Alle Cogne and then resumes the ascent up to Croce Gaggi.
After a rest, follow trail 74, which descends along the stream in the locality of Prato al Fiume. Resume the uphill asphalt road to arrive at the Hermitage of Camaldoli.
From the Hermitage, descend towards the Monastery following trail 68, which reaches the Monastery in just over 30 minutes.

Note: You can also visit the hermitage on Stage 5, passing by the Eremo di Camaldoli on your way to Badia Prataglia. See the alternative itinerary suggested on Stage 5.

Stop Early at Rifugio Asqua

If you walk the main route, consider stopping for the night at Rifugio Asqua. They serve fantastic dinner and breakfast. Camaldoli Monastery (Monastero di Camaldoli) will be a two-hour walk the next day, making it reasonable to walk to Badia Prataglia the same day, and keep pace with the original schedule.

About Camaldoli

Camaldoli is a small picturesque village located in the heart of the Casentino Forest National Park. The village is known for its historic Camaldolese monastery (Monastero di Camaldoli), which has been in existence for over 1000 years and is still home to a community of monks. Visitors can tour the monastery and its museum to learn about its rich history and see beautiful artwork and artifacts. Camaldoli also offers several small shops and restaurants where visitors can enjoy local Tuscan cuisine and crafts.

Stage 4 at Monastero di Camaldoli — Inside the Monastero di Camaldoli where pilgrims can make a visit and receive a stamp.

What’s Next: Stage 5

Stage 5’s walk is short, but steep. Be ready for a strenuous climb from Camaldoli, returning to thick forest trails. Then in 3 short hours, emerge at the quiet resort town Badia Prataglia.

Stage 5: Camaldoli to Badia Prataglia

Accommodations

Stage 4 Accommodations

If you’re planning to stay at the Camaldoli Monastery, contact them ahead of time (possibly before leaving Consuma on Day 2). Monastery stays are popular and can fill up. Camping Camaldoli provides tents to pilgrims outside village limits.

Rifugio Asqua provides quiet beds in the near-silent forest just 2 hours walk before Camaldoli. Try ending Stage 4 early here, then walk to Badia Prataglia the next day to keep pace with the original schedule.

Pilgrim Ospitale Member / Pilgrims' Discount

Breakfast Included

Dinner Available

Good for Groups