The Sacred Way Langobardorum

Summary The Via Sacra Longobardorum is a medieval route that connetcs Mont Saint Micheal (France) to the shrine of St.Michael the Archangel of Monte S.Angelo ( Foggia), which owes its name to ‘apparition of the Angel in the fifth century B.C. Around the shrine of St. Michael the Archangel was built first a castrum, then a thriving city that for centuries has exceeded 20,000 people. The Via Sacra Longobardorum is a way of communication representing a clear historical example of the influence that can have a pilgrimage route on the development of local communities. Nowadays, another example is represented by the development of S.Giovanni Rotondo ( Foggia) in consequence of pilgrimage from all over the world oves toward the tomb of Saint Pio. The author wants to analyse the way of the Via Sacra Longobardorum regarding Foggia’s area and in particular its several hermitages that in the Middle Age supported the pedestrians, the riders, humble people, crusaders, dukes popes and saints, all devotees of the Archangel Michael and, therefore, directed to the Holy Cave. Further, the state of the ancient hermitages, the hiking trails and the most important landscape aspects will be described.