ACQUACHETA
A
t the beginning of his exile, Dante stayed in the Eremo dei Romiti: this hermitage was founded in 986 by Saint Romualdo, and the remains can still be seen there. At just a short distance we find the Cascata dell’Acquacheta: these falls are mentioned in the Divine Comedy (Inf. XVI, vv. 94-105): “Even as that stream which holdeth its own course/ The first from Monte Veso tow’rds the East,/ Upon the left-hand slope of Apennine,/ Which is above called Acquacheta, ere/ It down descendeth into its low bed,/ And at Forli is vacant of that name,/ Reverberates there above San Benedetto/ From Alps, by falling at a single leap,/ Where for a thousand there were room enough;/ Thus downward from a bank precipitate,/ We found resounding that dark-tinted water,/ So that it soon the ear would have offended.”
“Come quel fiume c’ha proprio cammino
prima da Monte Veso inver levante,
dalla sinistra costa d’Apennino,
che si chiama Acquacheta suso, avante
che si divalli giù nel basso letto,
e a Forlì di quel nome è vacante,
rimbomba là sovra San Benedetto
dell’Alpe per cadere ad una scesa
ove dovria per mille essere recetto;
così, giù d’una ripa discoscesa,
trovammo risonar quell’acqua tinta,
sì che ‘n poc’ora avria l’orecchia offesa”.
SAN BENEDETTO IN ALPE.
This Benedictine abbey can be reached on foot from the town by travelling along via Dante Alighieri, named after the poet who came here at the beginning of the 14th century. Only the belltower, part of the apse, a watch-tower, part of the cloister, and an impressive crypt remain of what was the original structure. From the cloister-courtyard, we can admire a magnificent view of the valley. You can reach the fall from the town by travelling along trail 407 along the Acquacheta stream until it reaches the Lavane; or it can be reached from Passo del Muraglione along the main ridge (CAI 00) or directly from San Godenzo (LINK A LUOGHI): this last itinerary, which is suggested only for more exert and trained hikers, reaches Colla della Maestà by way of trail 10, which departs from the first bend on state road Muraglione and passes the village of Castagneto.
