The seventh stage – naturalistic variant allows us to reach San Romedio, the end point of the Jacopeo d'Anaunia path, through landscapes set in very wild nature. This stage is suggested to be covered in two days, both due to the kilometers traveled and especially because of the elevation changes, which make it much more demanding than the classic route passing through the villages of Segno and Coredo.

This stage represents a beautiful artistic – naturalistic route and it is recommended to stop, after the first day, in the village of Vervò. This way, on the first day, you will have the chance to cross an environment still almost wild, and on the second day visit very ancient and historically rich centers. Starting from Vigo di Ton, the first part of the route is shared with the traditional stage; a visit to Castel Thun is highly recommended. After leaving the castle, continue to the junction where you take a steep path crossing a pine forest. A stop is mandatory at a panoramic terrace with views over the lower Non Valley and the Brenta Dolomites. Walking then through beech and fir woods, you reach the area of Mas del Mont, then a Tibetan bridge, and finally the village of Vervò near the church of St. Martin, a prehistoric settlement site.

On the second day, leaving this village, descend towards the village of Tres, built on three hills: Dosso di S.Agnese where the ancient church stands, S.Rocco, and Mimiela. On the hill of S. Rocco there used to be a chapel dedicated to St. Rocco, protector against the plague; it was demolished in 1760 and replaced by the new parish church dedicated to St. Agnes.

Following the marked itinerary, you arrive at an artificial pond for irrigation water accumulation and then proceed through the woods towards the village of Sfruz. This village was for centuries among the most renowned centers of ceramic stove production in all of Tyrol. Thousands of stoves departed from here, destined for the territories of the Noce Valley and more generally for the areas of Central Europe.

Continuing the route, you reach the village of Smarano, which stands on a plateau offering a beautiful panorama of the valley and the surrounding mountains. Continuing the walk, you reach the area of Merlonga. From here, you continue through a forest on a comfortable flat path along which you find two interesting panoramic spots with benches for resting. The first overlooks the lakes of Coredo below. The second, at the end of the road, faces the Verdes valley and offers a pleasant surprise: the view of the Sanctuary of St. Romedio from above. From here, the path steeply descends towards the small lakes, which are reached after a few minutes, and the itinerary rejoins the route of the seventh stage. Still descending, you reach the Sanctuary in a short time. More information about arriving at the Sanctuary can be found in the description of the traditional stage.

Texts by Donato Iob
Anaune Associations Friends of the Camino de Santiago
www.santiagoanaunia.it