Cammino dell’Angelo Earns Recognition in Washington, D.C.

The Monte Faito pilgrimage route received international recognition at the National Press Club in Washington on Oct. 16, capping a U.S. mission to New York and Washington, D.C. The visit aimed to build ties with Italian American communities and expand awareness of the route’s faith, cultural and tourism value.

Why it matters: - The Cammino dell’Angelo is positioning itself as both a pilgrimage route and a cultural tourism asset for Southern Italy. - The Washington recognition strengthens the route’s visibility among Italian American communities and opens the door to future cross-border exchanges. - The mission also supports regional development efforts tied to faith tourism, heritage preservation and local identity.

What happened: - The Cammino dell’Angelo of Monte Faito completed a mission to New York and Washington, D.C., focused on faith, culture and sustainable regional development. - The route received recognition on Oct. 16 at the National Press Club during the 13th Premio Eccellenza Italiana, an international award program for people and projects promoting Italian expertise and values. - The delegation’s U.S. program began in New York on Oct. 13 with an event at the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute titled “The Italian Way to International Dialogue: The Pursuit of Beauty, Personal Growth and Multilateralism.” - The delegation also met Italian American community members in Little Italy and visited the Italian American Museum. - A short documentary segment about the Cammino was produced during the New York visit. - On Oct. 14, Father Catello Malafronte concelebrated Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral during a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. - In Washington, the delegation was welcomed at the Embassy of Italy and held discussions on tourism, culture, religious heritage and promotion of the Cammino among Italian American communities.

The details: - Father Catello Malafronte is Rector and Abbot of the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel on Monte Faito. - The modern revival of the Cammino began in 2006 through Father Catello Malafronte, local hiking associations and branches of the Italian Alpine Club. - The route spans more than 400 kilometers and connects the Sorrento Peninsula, the Amalfi Coast and the Lattari Mountains with the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel. - The Cammino is listed in Italy’s official Catalogue of Religious Routes and in the Campania Region’s Atlas of Routes. - The route is connected to the Via Francigena del Sud and to Europe’s broader network of pilgrimage routes. - Pilgrims receive a credential stamped at the different stages of the journey. - Pilgrims may receive the Testimonium at the Sanctuary after completing the pilgrimage. - The Cammino centers on spirituality, history, nature and the identity of Southern Italy. - The route is rooted in devotion to Saint Michael and in the pilgrimage traditions of the Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast. - The journey combines faith, history, biodiversity and local culture.

Between the lines: - The U.S. trip was not only ceremonial. It was also a networking effort designed to create new partnerships and broaden the route’s audience. - The mention of the Maryland Camino suggests a practical effort to connect with existing pilgrimage initiatives in the United States. - The award and the embassy meetings frame the Cammino as part of a larger conversation about Italian heritage abroad, not just a local trail. - Maria Azzurra Rinaldi, vice president of the E-novation Foundation, said the project stood out because it blends tourism, spirituality and human connection.

What’s next: - The delegation expects the U.S. meetings to support future cultural and spiritual exchanges. - Father Catello said the trip created new relationships and new opportunities for the Cammino. - The route will likely continue outreach aimed at people seeking an authentic experience of Italy through pilgrimage and landscape.

The bottom line: - The Cammino dell’Angelo is using international recognition to turn a historic pilgrimage path into a wider platform for faith, culture and regional promotion.