Day 6 La Verna: Place of Saint Francis

My first task this morning is to cross a river. The heavy rain showers last night have caused it to swell, and the stones that are supposed to allow you to cross it dry-footed are nowhere to be seen. So there's nothing left to do but take off your shoes, roll up your trousers and balance through the fast-flowing mountain stream at around 5 degrees. Extremely cold, but not at all unpleasant.

Peace, solitude and winter temperatures

The next section leads from Rimbocchi to Monte Penna. The guide says that you gain altitude 'quickly'. It should be more accurate to say: "whoever manages to get up has gained a lot of altitude". "Quickly" is the wrong adjective in this case. The climb is very steep.

But of course there is a reward for the effort: a beautiful path over a long ridge, with beautiful views of the surrounding wooded mountains. Unfortunately, as has been the case for two days, an ice-cold wind is blowing. In some places there is still snow from the previous night. If only I hadn't quickly taken gloves and a hat out of my backpack at home just before leaving.

I find it comforting that I almost always reach my destination within the predicted time, despite many breaks. Here the guide is lenient, even with the less well-trained pilgrims, like me.

Magical and mystical

On this path, too, there are no houses to be seen for many hours and no human noises to be heard. Then suddenly there is an asphalt road. I read that I have to cross it. And after a few meters I enter a fantastically beautiful forest. It is the most beautiful passage I have experienced on this trip so far.

You can't stop marveling and no photo can capture it as beautifully as it really is. Scattered between the beech trees are small boulders, then increasingly larger ones, completely covered in moss. You get a feeling for how Saint Francis found his connection to creation here. If you have the opportunity, you should take the path through this forest to the monastery. It is impressive.

The monastery on the rock

I take another detour through the forest and suddenly find myself standing in front of a gigantic rock. The monastery of La Verna sits high above.

Once you get to the top, you take a quick look around, then go to your room... and what a surprise: there's a warm radiator. Finally warm again!

Spiritual place and tourist magnet

My euphoria on entering the monastery complex is briefly dampened when the humanized contents of a large excursion bus float past me. Senior citizens from South Tyrol, you can tell from the dialect. Do I really want this commotion after the last few quiet days? The group of South Tyroleans quickly disperses and as time passes (as can be seen on the sundial on the church wall) the day visitors suddenly disappear again. Those who have stayed are a handful of pilgrims and people, one gets the impression, who are looking for peace and contemplation.

Once through the complex, I am very impressed. The rock, the crypt, the monastery complex. There are more than enough photo opportunities here.

If you want to learn more about La Verna and Francis, you might find what you are looking for here:

https://franziskaner.net/la-verna/