Trails & Inspiration

World's Best Hikes 3: Sentiero Della Speranza

In part 3 of our World’s Best Hikes series, Sportsshoes ambassador Ben Mounsey describes his experience of walking the Sentiero della Speranza, from Brentino to Madonna della Corona in Northern Italy.

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CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ROUTE IN KOMOOT

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The Sentiero della Speranza (Trail of Hope) is a well-known route followed by pilgrims and hikers alike.

This popular trail is a bucket-list experience and certainly worth the 600m of climb from the charming village of Brentino to reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Corona.

Despite being only 2.5km from bottom to top, this route requires a high level of fitness as the climb is steep in parts and therefore very challenging. Also, if you are hiking during the summer months, it will likely be very hot so we recommend carrying water because it will take between 1-2 hours to reach the Sanctuary, depending on your level of fitness.

Most of the trail is covered by trees, so it does offer some protection from the sun and it is easy to navigate once you begin the route. At the summit, it is possible to buy drinks and food from the cafe and there are also toilets and a shop to buy souvenirs. You can visit the church, but if you are walking on a weekend, be aware that there will almost certainly be a queue to enter, especially on a Sunday morning during service.

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Pictured: The Madonna della Corona: Photo Credit to Ludovico Bee, Unsplash

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For anyone who wishes to visit the Sanctuary but is unable to walk the trail from Brentino, it is possible to drive to the top and park from the opposite side of the mountain via the village of Spiazzi. Alternatively, for those who prefer more of a challenge and want to extend the walk, we recommend following this complete route provided, as opposed to just up and down from Brentino. To do this, take a left turn as you descend back towards Brentino, just a few hundred metres below the Sanctuary. This trail traverses through the Vall de Orsa and leads to a Himalayan bridge, with a very impressive waterfall below. Here, there is also a viewing point from which you can take some fantastic photographs.

Further on the trail you will also meet the stream, a perfect place to take a break – especially if you have a hot dog in need of a drink and a dip in the water! From here, the route climbs a little more, before turning right (don’t miss the turn!) and traversing along the opposite side of the valley, back towards Brentino.

At first the route is reasonably flat, but soon becomes quite technical as it descends more sharply towards the village. Make sure you take the right hand turn when the path splits again and take care as you negotiate the more challenging sections of the trail. This is the most dangerous section of the route because the terrain is rocky and very loose underfoot, so you need to approach and walk with caution. Therefore, we suggest wearing a hiking shoe or boot that offers ample stability and support, but most importantly plenty of grip.

Finally, you will leave the rough trail to join a track/road and from here follow the red and white markers back towards Brentino, where you can enjoy a well-earned rest and some refreshments at the excellent bar in the centre of the village.

The Sentiero della Speranza is not just a hike, it’s a pilgrimage. The trail feels magical, spiritual and holistic. It offers breath-taking views of the Sanctuary, which sits high above the trees and carved impressively into the rock. At various points, you can hear the enchanting sounds of the church bells and sweet music echoing around the valley, calling you from above and beckoning you to draw closer.

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Pictured: The view of the Madonna della Corona across the valley: Photo Credit to Ben Mounsey

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If you ever have the opportunity to visit this beautiful region of Italy, then set aside some time to enjoy this wonderful walk and experience the magic of the trail and the hidden gem of the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Corona - we guarantee you won’t be left disappointed.

For this particular hike, our top shoe recommendations are the adidas Terrex Swift R3 Walking Shoes, or the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 2 Mid GTX (if you prefer a higher fitting boot). This is because the path is quite challenging and technical in parts, so grip, stability and support are the highest priorities.

Please note: If you're looking for a walking shoe to wear in the hot summer months, you won't need to buy the GORETEX version of these shoes

REVIEW: ADIDAS TERREX SWIFT R3 WALKING SHOES

REVIEW: LA SPORTIVA ULTRA RAPTOR 2 MID GTX WALKING BOOTS

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Follow Ben and all his outdoor komoot adventures here.

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