This morning I had another climb that started pretty well straight away. It followed the old road up to the mountainous to the location of the Certosa di Trisulti.

Lower parts of the road still were reasonably intact but it degenerated steadily as I got farther up.

The Certosa, or Charterhouse, is a Cistercian abbey that was built from 1204 on the site of a Benedictine Abbey founded in 996.

The Trisulti Charterhouse.

It was for centuries a Carthusian monastery before the Cistercians from Casamari where I’m staying tonight took over in 1947.

One of the interesting features is the 18th century pharmacy.

They have all the popular old standbys such as crushed deer horn.

It was run for a while by a private institute that was evicted for not paying its bills.

I had another 20km of walking to get to Casamari. For the first time in weeks, today I saw clouds and early this evening we had a thunderstorm

Hmmm, is this the right way ?

I’m staying tonight at the Cistercian abbey of Casamari. It was founded in the 10th century and steadily grew. It has had many ups and downs over the centuries including suppression in the time of Napoleon.

In line with the order’s principles the abbey has a pharmacy and accommodation for pilgrims and other groups.

The current buildings are fine 13th century examples of Burgundian early Gothic architecture.

A special experience was attending vespers tonight sitting in the 400 year old choir stalls with the sound of the monk’s Gregorian Chant echoing back through the gothic church mixed with the sound of thunder from outside.