Norma to Sermoneta to Sezze – 5th June
Distance: 19.4 km – Elevation +590 m -670 m
Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 28 degrees
I slept like a log last night in a very comfortable bed and woke to a beautiful clear morning with an expanse of blue sky. The breakfast room was on the same level as the roof terrace so I was able to enjoy breakfast together with the wonderful views of the Pontitian Plain that stretched westward towards the sea.
It was a leisurely start to the day and I didn’t begin the descent from the village until 9.00 am. The descent followed an ancient path that zig-zagged its way down to the road below. It was a long and beautiful descent with the path lined with wildflowers and magnificent views looking across the Pontitian Plain and back to Norma, seemingly precariously perched astride the hilltop. Once down I followed the road for a few kilometres before reaching the base of the hill on which the hill village of Sermoneta is built. Just before starting the climb, I came to an old church-like building with the entrance door bricked to prevent access and next to it is a sign which translates as follows “ On the first stretch of via dei silici there is the Church of the Madonna della Vittoria with a united convent given to the Capuchin fathers in 1585. The church was built by the valiant Duke Onorato IV Caetani, by vow made to the Madonna if he had come out victorious from the battle of Lepanto.”
The climb up to Sermoneta was steep and again zig-zagged its way to the top but this time the path was overgrown and seemed not to be in regular use. After reaching the fortifications of the town I then took the wrong onward path requiring another wasteful ascent to return to the correct route. From Sermoneta the road continued to climb with backward views to the hilltop town. For some distance, I was accompanied by a stray horse that suddenly appeared from a wooded section. The horse seemed content and appeared to know where it was going, fortunately, the road was quiet and no vehicles passed during that time. I followed the road passing olive groves and small farms for about 5 kilometres before the trail moved offroad for the final ascent into Sezze.
By the time I reached the outskirts of Sezze, the combination of the heat and the climbing of the past few days began to take its toll. I had booked to stay in a B&B not realising it was at the far end of the town, a distance of 2 kilometres and all uphill. I was totally exhausted when I arrived. The landlady was very welcoming and seeing me immediately seat myself in one of the terrace chairs bought me a bottle of cold water, and although it was a B&B and not full board, she kindly provided me with supper which I enjoyed on the terrace with expansive views of the plain below.
The evenings are quite cold in the mountains and it wasn’t long before I retired to the warmth of my bed and sleep.
