From Via della Veduta, which leads from Atina to Villa Latina, you immediately cross the Madonnella path (difficulty 0/1). After a pleasant, mostly flat walk, the Church of the Immaculate Conception comes into view, and a little further on you’ll find the chapel dedicated to the Madonna, with a lovely spot nearby for a relaxing and contemplative break.
This site is kept in perfect order by one of our unsung heroes, Michele Del Prete, a talented artist who created the four side panels inside the church, where the 14 metal reliefs depicting the Stations of the Cross are also displayed.
Then begins the uphill section (difficulty 2/3), along an ancient path that winds its way along the eastern slope of the hill, passing through the rare medieval ruins. Then, after about 1 km, you reach the first level of the hill (the second, final and slightly higher level is where the ancient Acropolis and the medieval fortress once stood). This is the level enclosed by the second cyclopean or polygonal wall, which once surrounded the medieval village, destroyed along with the Rocca by the earthquake of 1349.
From the end of the red path, the green and yellow path depart, which we will discuss in the next episode.
English translation by Louise Shapcott
