4th edition of “Alta Via dei Lattari 1876” – In the footsteps of Giustino Fortunato

“…climbing the slopes of that winding path, which on every side unfolds more or less alpine yet always rich in views, one glimpses as if by magic the blue mirror of the water stretching here and there as far as the eye can see, and the shore below encircled in a thousand ways by sheer cliffs, glittering headlands, dark recesses the colour of emerald green or lapis lazuli cobalt…”

Description of the Lattari Mountains – From an article in L’Appennino della Campania

From 14 to 16 October 2022 the fourth edition of the Historical Re-enactment of Giustino Fortunato’s Crossing of the Lattari Mountains took place, organised by the association Alta Via dei Lattari 1876.

Once again this year, we at Turismo.RicercAttiva were at the finish line in Punta Campanella to welcome all the participants. I set off from Torca towards Punta Campanella in the wonderful company of Marianna and Anna, friends in life and on the trail. Towards the end we were joined by Marco and Marika, the adventure and exploration group Turismo.RicercAttiva is always out with.

At around 4 pm the hikers of the CAI Cava group completed their crossing. President Lucia Palumbo was overjoyed to have finished, and her words took us back through her adventure, sharing her emotions and difficulties. We were lucky to be there when she arrived.

Shortly afterwards a white patch slowly began to appear on the headland. About 50 men and women in period costume appeared one after another from the top of the Pezzalonga promontory at around 4:30 pm. The group, compact and at a good pace, walked down the path as if they did not feel the fatigue of the whole crossing.

From the Punta Campanella lighthouse we began to hear laughter and the first cries of joy as soon as the walkers reached the junction of the path with Via Minerva. They walked the last metres and the steps up to the square in front of the lighthouse, bringing with them the joy of those days. Hugs, laughter and shouts filled Punta Campanella. Then, like a ritual, came the moment of throwing the hats: for an instant the blue sky was decorated with hats and scarves, and the crossing was over. Among all the participants I had the chance to greet with a hug Giovanni Petrolini, Paolo Casaburi, Daniele Erra and Angelo Sorrentino, the people behind the association Alta Via dei Lattari 1876.

The celebrations began on the platform by the sea below the Campanella tower. First a short theatrical re-enactment of Giustino Fortunato’s arrival at Punta Campanella, facing Capri, performed by Giovanni Falcone and Mimmo Rispoli; then the food stalls opened so that everyone could eat together and celebrate the end of this crossing of the Lattari Mountains and a wonderful day.

With the sun setting right over Capri, the sky orange and the sea golden, the day came to an end and we headed home along Via Minerva as night fell.

Thank you for the emotions. Happy walking.

Luca Casaburi