7 Trails to Discover Italy
Agritravel Expo is a fair dedicated to “Slow Tourism” is being held in Bergamo (Lombardy): what more peaceful and immersive way to visit enchanting places than on foot?
At a time when we talk about crowded places and over-tourism, let’s take advantage of this event in Bergamo to highlight what and how many different ways there are to visit Italy, particularly through 7 trails.
Cultural, experiential, historical, legendary, spiritual, community-based, and along waterways—Italy is best explored on foot.
Walking is at the heart of slow tourism: a way to deeply experience the land, breathe in its culture, discover traditions, savor unique places, and meet people. Traveling at a slow pace along well-known or hidden routes provides an authentic and mindful experience, whether the motivation is history, following in the footsteps of a historical figure, self-discovery, or connecting with nature.
A Booming Sector
According to the latest annual survey by Terre di mezzo Editore, 2023 marked the first time that over 100,000 pilgrim passports were issued to walkers—a 25% increase from 2022.
These significant numbers demonstrate how well-suited Italy is for slow travel, a fact reinforced by the increasing focus of Italian regions on revitalizing walking trails as a key component of their tourism strategies.
Experiential Trails: Discovering the Sinis Peninsula in Sardinia
More and more travelers seek immersive, authentic experiences that connect them with nature and local communities. Exploring a destination on foot allows for a deeper connection, which is precisely the goal of “Sinis, Your Secret Experience in Sardinia,” a tourism initiative uniting ten businesses committed to promoting the Sinis Peninsula in Oristano, Sardinia.
Their motto, “Extraordinary experiences that amaze and inspire, in genuine contact with places and people,” reflects their philosophy. The businesses span various sectors, including agriculture, food production, hospitality, team-building, craftsmanship, environmental education, and sustainability. Together, they craft inclusive and customizable experiential itineraries.
The Sinis Peninsula is a natural paradise with unspoiled ecosystems: salt marshes, shimmering beaches with quartz sand, and protected marine areas. Several major walking trails recognized by the region of Sardinia as part of the “We Walk in Sardinia” program pass through this area, including the 100 Towers Trail and the Via dei Santuari. These routes traverse both coastline and countryside, leading through charming villages, ancient traditions, and breathtaking landscapes.
Legendary Trails: The Path of Charlemagne
Some trails are born from legend, such as the Path of Charlemagne, developed by the Friends of the Via Valeriana. According to myth, Charlemagne forced local lords to convert to Christianity during his conquests and ordered the construction of churches—sometimes atop the ruins of destroyed castles—to celebrate his victories.
Inspired by this tale, Antonio Votino and Andrea Grava created a trail that follows Charlemagne’s footsteps, starting in Bergamo and passing through the Serio River Valley, Val Cavallina, Val Borlezza, Valle Camonica, Val di Sole, and Val Rendena, before ending in Carisolo, Trentino.
Now spanning 225 km over 12 stages, this moderately challenging route primarily follows mountain ridges, with varying elevations—from 380 meters above sea level in Bergamo Alta to approximately 1,800 meters at Passo Tonale.
Historical Trails: The Via Francigena in Tuscany
Walking through history, retracing ancient roads, and reliving the past—Italy boasts numerous historical trails, among which the Via Francigena stands out. Stretching 394 km across Tuscany, this legendary pilgrimage route has been traveled for centuries by pilgrims, merchants, saints, and adventurers.
Starting in the forests of Lunigiana, between the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the Apuan Alps, the route crosses Versilia, the Lucca Plain, the Siena countryside, and the Val d’Orcia.
Another significant Tuscan trail is the Via Lauretana, an ancient Etruscan-Roman route that medieval pilgrims followed to Loreto. This 114 km path, divided into five stages, stretches from Siena (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to Cortona, passing through the Crete Senesi and the Valdichiana.
Spiritual Trails: The Alta Via delle Grazie
Italy’s rich religious heritage is also reflected in its spiritual trails, which gain even more significance in light of the 2025 Jubilee.
Among these is the Alta Via delle Grazie, a 271 km pilgrimage route through the Orobic Alps in Lombardy, developed by Gabriella Castelli and Giovanni Battista Merelli after their experiences on the Camino de Santiago. The hospitable spirit of that famous route inspired them to create a network where convents, monasteries, parish centers, and family homes welcome pilgrims along 13 stages.
The route includes 18 Marian sanctuaries, blending spirituality with nature and culture.
Cultural Trails: The Monastery of Borutta, Sardinia
Many thematic trails in Italy highlight its history, art, spirituality, and nature. One remarkable example is Borutta, a small town in Sardinia’s Sassari province, home to over 30 Nuragic remains and 10 “Tombs of the Giants”.
The jewel of Borutta is the Benedictine Monastery of San Pietro di Sorres, one of Sardinia’s finest Romanesque architectural masterpieces, dating back to the 11th century. It was a bishop’s seat for 500 years and now houses a library of 70,000 books, including rare religious texts.
The monastery is a crossroads for breathtaking itineraries under the “We Walk in Sardinia” initiative, including the Santu Jacu Trail and the Romanesque basilicas of Ardara, Borutta, and Codrongianos.
Waterway Trails: Walking and Cycling Along the Adda River
Waterways offer unique landscapes and sensory experiences—from listening to flowing water to cooling off in icy mountain streams: this is slow tourism!
Among the FAI (Italian Environmental Fund) initiatives included in “The Places of the Heart”, the Adda River Trail allows visitors to walk or cycle from Villa d’Adda to Crespi d’Adda (Bergamo province). The route passes through historical landmarks like Leonardo da Vinci’s ferry in Imbersago, the Crespi d’Adda workers’ village, and the Edison Carlo Esterle hydroelectric plant.
