/ Itinerary 55 – Il Deserto circuit

Circuit with no significant gradients, starting and ending in Sant’Agata at Largo Padre Ludovico da Casoria, by the SITA bus stop after the petrol station.
Start by following the main road to the right towards the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.  Before reaching the church, the following itineraries depart to Sorrento: 26 from the first intersection on the right,15, 16 and 26 from the following one. Continue along the main road to the left of the church and after 300 meters, at a flat little roundabout, continue uphill to the right until you reach an open space by a hotel.  This is the highest point of the itinerary unless you wish to make a detour (there and back) to the Monastery di San Paolo on top of the hill called Il Deserto. The route continues to the right of the entrance along a paved road slightly downhill, initially past chestnut groves and then offering sweeping views of the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius. After a short level stretch, unless you wish to take another short detour (there and back) to the ancient chapel of Tentarano, ignore the first turning to the left (dead end) and take the second, Via Tore al Deserto, paying attention to the waymarks. The itinerary continues gently downhill, flattening out at the next intersection where you follow the very panoramic Via Casa Aprea with its excellent views of the island of Capri and the famous Faraglioni rocks. For around 400m you will walk past fields, mainly olive groves, until you come to a couple of buildings on the left. Take the steps down to the left. In just a few minutes you will come to the village of Pastena near the fork to the village of Acquara joining itinerary 35. Turn left along the main road towards the church. Walk down the narrow lane to the left of the church and in about 200m you will come to the Chapel of San Sebastiano. Straight after that, itinerary 45 goes right to Monticchio. To return to the starting point in Sant’Agata, however, keep straight on, walking alongside the rivulet that starts from the spring at Canale. Here you can admire the ancient washhouses still used by numerous housewives thanks to the quality of the water before continuing to the right along Via Fonte di Canale. In around 450m you will complete the loop.