Pilgrimage on Foot to the Sanctuary of Castelpetroso

A 37-kilometre journey of faith

The Pilgrimage on Foot to the Sanctuary of Castelpetroso is the most deeply rooted religious tradition in San Gregorio Matese, a small town in the province of Caserta, Campania, nestled on the slopes of the Matese massif. Every year, a group of pilgrims leaves the town's Antica Chiesa to tackle the 37 kilometres separating the village from the Minor Basilica of Maria Santissima Addolorata in Castelpetroso, Molise. The march lasts between 18 and 19 hours, taking place mostly at night along ancient mountain trails.

A tradition passed down through generations

In 2026, the pilgrimage reached its 134th edition, with origins dating back to the late 19th century, shortly after the Marian apparitions that inspired the sanctuary. Local chronicles describe it as one of the oldest pilgrimages in the area, a rite that the people of San Gregorio view as a legacy passed from father to son, ensuring the longevity of a deeply ingrained community tradition.

The San Gregorio Matese route is officially recognized as one of the historic pilgrimages by the Basilica of Castelpetroso, alongside those from Alife, Baselice, Castello del Matese, and Pietramelara. This is not a manufactured tourist event, but a genuine expression of popular devotion that has remained unchanged for generations.

The Sanctuary of the Addolorata in Castelpetroso

The destination is one of the most significant sites of faith in Southern Italy. The sanctuary was established following the apparitions of the Virgin of Sorrows on March 22 and April 1, 1888, reported by two local women, Fabiana Cicchino and Serafina Valentino. The foundation stone was laid on September 28, 1890, by Bishop Francesco Macarone Palmieri; it was consecrated on September 21, 1975, and designated a minor basilica in September 2013. The neo-Gothic church welcomes thousands of faithful every year, many of whom arrive on foot across the Matese mountains.

The night on the Matese

Departure takes place late in the evening when the village is silent, and the bulk of the journey is completed in the dark. This is the most evocative and challenging part of the trek: pilgrims traverse old mountain paths connecting the Campanian side of the Matese to the Molise plains, sometimes under a brilliant moon, other times through driving rain. The elevation gain, the duration of the march, and the altitude make the experience physically demanding, turning the pilgrimage into a test of both endurance and faith.

Faith, community, and landscape

This pilgrimage is more than just a journey; it is a path that bridges the detachment from daily life with a search for communion and inner growth. Pilgrims walk in groups, praying, singing, supporting one another through the toughest stretches, and resting together. Participants often say that the moment they arrive before the basilica, after nearly twenty hours of walking, fully rewards the effort.

• Departure: Antica Chiesa, San Gregorio Matese (CE)
• Arrival: Minor Basilica of Maria Santissima Addolorata, Castelpetroso (IS)
• Distance: approximately 37 kilometres
• Duration: between 18 and 19 hours
• Nature: night trek on mountain trails

An event in the heart of the Matese Park

San Gregorio Matese is located within the Matese Regional Park, a high-mountain territory of beech forests and pastures that remains one of the least-known corners of inland Campania. The pilgrimage to Castelpetroso is also an opportunity to discover this landscape from an unusual perspective—that of the slow traveller, following paths that for centuries served as routes for transhumance, trade, and devotion between Terra di Lavoro and Molise.