Cammino dei Briganti – hike in the footsteps of Marsica and Cicolano rebels in Italy

The Cammino dei Briganti stretches 90 kilometres (56 mi) between Abruzzo and Lazio in Italy. I decided to divide the route into five stages, combining some shorter legs to give you a full day discovering the Duchessa Mountains. The entire itinerary is modular so, if you have more time, you can split the first or fourth stage in two and walk at a more relaxed pace.

The Cammino dei Briganti translates to the ‘Way of the Brigands’. On this journey, you follow in the footsteps of those who rebelled against the Savoy family as they didn’t agree with the unification of Italy in 1861. Men and women who didn’t want to bow to a new power grouped themselves into bands and went underground in their own land, which until then was the border between the Papal State and the Bourbon Kingdom. The woods were their home and their source of livelihood. You wouldn’t call them thugs, but rather rebels or free–spirited people with a strong sense of belonging. Many men refused to join the Savoy army and unfortunately, as is often the case such history, there was plenty of kidnapping, ransom demands and violence.

The best time to walk the Cammino dei Briganti is from spring to autumn. The altitudes never exceed 1,300 metres (4,265 ft) except at the Duchess Lake which is at 1,800 metres (5,905 ft) above sea level. Nonetheless, pack appropriate clothing for alpine conditions: short and breathable for the day and warm for the evening when the temperatures drop. A raincoat, pair of sturdy boots and sun cream are essential too. I recommend bringing poles, which help a lot, especially on the steeper sections.

This walk is great if you want to hike with a light set up and sleep in accommodation and also ideal if you want to bring your tent. In each village, you meet locals who can show you the best place to pitch your tent. Some agriTourism or agricamping establishments provide showers and services for a small fee.

It’s important to always carry a good supply of food and water, as the villages you come across are very small and often lack cafes or food shops. You don’t always find working fountains, so make sure you have plenty of water, especially in summer.

If you decide to leave your tent at home, I advise booking accommodation for each stage well in advance as there are very few options and limited availability. You can find all information about accommodation at this link: camminodeibriganti.it/strutture.

Before leaving, pick up your hiking passport to collect the stamps and get a certificate when you finish your adventure.

You can reach Sante Marie by train or bus from Tagliacozzo, which has direct train connections to Rome and is easy to reach from across Italy. There’s also a luggage transport service; you can find all the information and prices here: camminodeibriganti.it/info–pratiche/in–carrozza.

Happy walking!