The Viae Sancti Romualdi begins in Ravenna, where the saint was born and ordained abbot, and in 30 stages reaches Fabriano, the place where his remains are preserved, crossing Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, and the Marche. The journey, a celebration of an important episode in the history of monasticism, follows Romualdine and Benedictine routes and sites, connecting large green areas: the ancient Pineta di Classe, the Casentinesi Forests, and the Monte Cucco and Gola della Rossa parks, testifying to the symbiotic relationship between man and nature since the congregation's origins.

The environmental and landscape aspect, along with the historical and spiritual, is one of the main values ​​of the path, a teaching passed down to the nascent Italian State through the Camaldolese Forestry Code, a text that gathers the "rules" for managing greenery, the fruit of the wisdom of the monks who lovingly preserved and passed down this heritage to us, an important framework for reflection, including regulatory, on sustainability and environmental conservation.

The main ridge of the VSR—Viae—highlights the numerous segments, including European ones, that branch off from the main one—begins at Sant'Apollinare in Classe, a monastery where, despite the priory granted by Otto III, Romuald was unable "to keep his feet still" (Dante, Paradiso XXII). From here, towards Faenza, the hermitage of Gamogna, Badia della Valle, and the ancient remains of San Benedetto in Alpe, the Camaldoli Hermitage can be reached in nine stages.

This "historic" section, inaugurated in 2012 on the occasion of the millennium of the foundation of the Camaldoli Hermitage, is part of the VSR project, which aims to finalize the route in preparation for the commemoration of the thousandth anniversary of the death of Saint Romuald (Ravenna, between 951/53 – Fabriano 2027).

In twelve further stages, in Tuscany and Umbria, from the Abbey of Montecorona to Fonte Avellana and continuing into the Marche, and another eight stages that pass through Camaldolese abbeys of rare beauty such as Santa Croce in Sassoferrato, San Vittore di Genga, Grottafucile, Sant'Elena di Serra San Quirico, Sant'Urbano di Apiro, Valdicastrosi, it reaches Fabriano and the crypt of the Basilica of Saints Biagio and Romualdo.

The Viae are also in-depth meetings that annually address current issues together with the Ravenna Festival and the Camaldolese Congregation. Furthermore, starting from the rule of "ora et labora," Viae also becomes an educational program that aims to strengthen the connection between schools and the world of work. Viae is also a path to local, economic, and cultural development, an enrichment of the territories it passes through, including through agriculture and food and wine.

Viae is also a rediscovery of the relevance of the Camaldolese message and path, which, while aiming for human development and quality of life, abandons anthropocentrism for ecocentrism, adopting sustainable actions, and seeking to protect biodiversity and diversity without leaving anyone behind.

Viae is also the future link between the Way of Saint Romuald and the Way of Saint Benedict.

www.viaesanctiromualdi.it