“Not a long walk but quite hilly,” TripAdvisor user Jane C. commented on the site’s page. “The final path to the chapel, you do need shoes with a bit of grip especially if it has been raining.”
Other TripAdvisor users left similar comments. If you’re planning to visit, here’s what you need to know, according to those who have already make the trek:
- Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes. The hike can get steep at parts and is slippery after rain.
- When the church at the peak is open, you can buy cold water inside, but be sure to bring your own for the journey there. It can get hot, especially in the direct summer sun.
- If you want to tour the church, it’s open between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.
- The only bathroom along the way is a hole in the ground, so come prepared with toilet paper — or go beforehand.
- According to local legend, when you get to the top, if you ring the bell at the church three times and make a wish, it will come true.
Despite the hike’s challenges, those who have done it say it’s well worth the effort.
“It is even more amazing and beautiful than the photo,” TripAdvisor user Smilepolitely said. “No one can ever be a hermit here again, but moments of peace and reflection are quite attainable. I didn’t want to leave.”
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