Cammino di San Tommaso

History

Way of St Thomas is a cultural, naturalistic and spiritual itinerary that connects the city of Rome with the Basilica of St Peter in Ortona, guardian of the remains of the Apostle since 1258. The Way is also a form of modern pilgrimage in the footsteps of Saint Bridget of Sweden who arrived in Ortona between 1365 and 1368 following the revelation of the presence of the bones of Saint Thomas in the cathedral of the city.

According to local tradition, Bridget twice visited the tomb of the Apostle in Ortona; in memory of his passage was dedicated to an ancient church, in the nearby town of Arielli, which, along with the stone located at Porta Caldari in Ortona, testifies to the pilgrimage of the Saint in the city.

History offers an opportunity to rediscover, with modern forms, the activity of travel, as happened in Santiago de Compostela whose model was taken as an example by the Way of St Thomas to unite Abruzzo and Lazio.

Path and landscape description

A long journey of about 316 km that crosses the heart of the most authentic Abruzzo enhancing the landscape excellence of which is rich in the region and places of faith such as churches, hermitages and abbeys, silent guardians of spirituality. 

The itinerary proposed by the Way is walkable, by bike on road and dirt road, and on horseback starting from Rome to reach Ortona in the Cathedral of San Tommaso.

The pilgrimage route also crosses one of the most impressive places of pilgrimage, the Santuario della Santissima Trinita near Subiacao at an altitude of 1300 meters.

Web

http://www.camminodisantommaso.org

Starting location

Roma (Piazza San Pietro)

Final destination

Ortona (Cattedrale di San Tommaso)

Path length / stages

317 km / 16 stages