From Sessa Aurunca to Alife
The Campania itinerary starts in Sessa Aurunca. This town has ancient origins and it became important because of its position along the trade routes towards Rome. You can admire treasures like the Archaeological Museum in the Ducale Castle, the roman theatre, and the beautiful Cathedral in romanic style.
Teano, famous for the historic meeting between Garibaldi and Vittorio Emanuele II, where you can visit the archaeological remains of the ancient Teanum Sidicinum, including a Roman Theatre and Archaeological Museum. Continue to Riardo, with its castle of the same name, where you can admire the Savone valley, a river originating from an extinct volcano. Today, the effervescent waters of this area, praised by Vitruvius, are bottled by Ferrarelle.
Go on to Alife, an ancient walled Roman town, which still retains its imposing amphitheatre.
From Alife to Celle San Vito
The route continues to the Monte Pugliano Reserve, passes through the town of Telese - known for its thermal baths, before a steep climb to the marble quarries and the town of Vituliano. Enjoy the descent to Castelpoto, which still preserves traces of its ancient town walls.
From here descend to Benevento, an authentic outdoor museum with symbolic monuments, such as the Arch of Trajan, the Roman Theatre and the Sannio Museum.
To admire the view over the valley, go up to the ancient village of Paduli and tackle a series of hills to Montecalvo Irpino. From there, take a detour to admire “Le bolle della Malvizza”, striking mud volcanoes.
Some sections of the Via Francigena are not possible by bicycle, so you will have to take the provincial roads but, following our tracks, you can return to the route as far as Celle San Vito, the first town in Puglia from which to continue southwards.
