Martine is a fan of slow tourism and the Big Benches Community Project, an art initiative by Chris Bangle. In her blog from February 9, 2023, she shared her experience of visiting this project and the five Big Benches she had already discovered. What makes these Big Benches so special? ”You end up in places you would never visit otherwise. Sitting on a Big Bench, you embrace the silence, the natural surroundings, and the breathtaking views.”
The Parco Naturale del Monte Cucco
On a beautiful autumn day in November, Martine set out to find Big Bench #379 in Scheggia e Pascelupo, a village in the Natural Park of Monte Cucco, named after its highest peak (1566 m). This park is one of the wildest and most adventurous areas in Umbria, covering more than 10,000 hectares. It’s a popular destination for mountain trekking. A few years ago, we explored the Monte Cucco Caves here, but the park also boasts an impressive heritage of abbeys and monasteries, such as the Abbazia di Sant’Emiliano in Congiuntoli, a massive structure by a stream, and the Eremo di San Girolamo, which is worth a visit, though only from the outside.
Big Bench #379 in Scheggia e Pascelupo
Back to Scheggia e Pascelupo. Although the name refers to one place, it consists of two charming little villages. Scheggia is about 12 km from Gubbio, while you’ll reach Pascelupo after a winding 14 km drive through the Gola del Corno (gorge). The signs pointing to the Big Bench in Pascelupo are hard to miss. This tiny village has little more than a few residents, a bar, and of course, the Big Bench.
Hiking the Giro del Monte Calvario
After stamping our “Big Bench Passport,” we returned to Scheggia for a hike: the Giro del Monte Calvario. This well-marked, relatively easy circular trail of 6 km begins in the centre of Scheggia. The hike starts on a cart track and soon leads you via the Stations of the Cross to the Monte Calvario Church, where you’ll enjoy your first panoramic view. The route follows Trail No. 298 (formerly No. 49) along the slopes of Monte Calvario. After about two hours, you’ll arrive back in the centre of Scheggia, where you can relax with a drink or perhaps a pizza at Bar Pizzeria Le Bighe.
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