The idea of building a “Way of San Francesco Caracciolo”, in view of the many other routes such as the very famous one of Santiago de Compostela, of San Francesco d’Assisi, of Celestino V, etc., as annual pilgrimage started in 2008 between Villa Santa Maria and Agnone.

The historical reference is the journey that the Saint made while during his lifetime, in the late spring of 1608 from Loreto to Agnone and upon his death, to Naples. A journey of faith, of historical memory but also of discovery of places and encounters with communities.

A small working group established within the Laici Caracciolini Association, with the technical support of the Higher Education School of Art and Theology of the Pontifical Faculty of Southern Italy in the field of religious tourism, gradually started the process of carrying out the project beginning from the end of 2019. Although the Covid emergency has created considerable difficulties from the point of view of logistics, in the space of a year and a half, a first stretch of about 100 kilometers, from Fara San Martino to Pietrabbondante, was set up, which therefore includes the two fundamental places of the itinerary: Villa Santa Maria and Agnone.

The activity was concentrated on several levels. First of all, the municipal administrations were involved, so that they were all participants in this tourist-religious project that does not see a single territory as the absolute protagonist but instead has the aim of creating a large “destination” that is strengthened by the varied and rich heritage of attractions of various kinds (historical, cultural, landscape, nature, food and wine) that can be found along the entire route.

During the summer, meetings with local communities were organized in each of the first 12 municipalities to present the project to them and inform them who San Francesco Caracciolo was, his charisma and that of the Caracciolini Fathers. Many of these meetings have reserved beautiful surprises as happened in Roio del Sangro where we met a parishioner of the Guardian Angels CRM parish in Rome. But people’s curiosity for the patron saint of Chefs is great!!!

A strong bond was also created with the association of Abruzzo and Molise bakers, who found in the motto “from bread received to bread shared” a sign of belonging and identification. And then, what other food is there for pilgrims and traveling companions, more than bread?

A further field of activity was the positioning of the signs along the itinerary. An essential activity because it allows the pilgrims and traveling companions to undertake the journey without the risk of getting lost along the way! A paper and online map will also be ready soon, but you know, nothing is more reassuring than finding a directional sign along the way.

Even with regard to communication, to tell the work in progress online and talk about San Francesco Caracciolo, has been and still is a constant commitment; thanks to this, the number of followers continues to increase. In this respect, the meeting with the General Manager of Rai1 in his small native village was providential, which is also a stop on the Way!

A further step is represented by the Hotel Institutes which, thanks to the impetus given by that of Loreto, will have the opportunity to be promoters in the “construction” of sections of the path.

To achieve all this, the number of people who extend their professional skills in various fields and without whom many important results could not have been achieved has also grown.

The next objectives for 2022 see the extension of the itinerary northwards to Chieti and southwards to Teano, as well as the creation of “Caracciolini” routes in the ancient center of Naples, the cradle of the Order. But not only that: the “community” of supporters will also grow; today almost three hundred and it continues to grow.

Thanks to the setting up of a network of reception facilities (hostels, landlords, b&bs, small hotels, trattorias and restaurants), individuals and groups will be able to organize walking experiences along the Caracciolino itinerary of several days, immersed in the wonderful nature of Abruzzo and Molise.

The greatest joy is hearing the name of San Francesco Caracciolo uttered by so many people and even more discovering that his spirituality still enters the depths of many souls today.

By Nicola Caracciolo