Trip of the week: a glorious walk across the Apennines in Italy

The 80-mile Via degli Dei footpath can be seen as a pilgrimage route of sorts

The village of Madonna dei Fornelli in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
The village of Madonna dei Fornelli in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
(Image credit: Realy Easy Star/Roberto Carnevali/Alamy Stock Photo)

Winding over the Apennine mountains between Bologna and Florence, the 80-mile Via degli Dei footpath can be seen as a pilgrimage route of sorts – a way to celebrate “the secular religions of Italian life: food and beauty”, says James Stewart in The Times. It hardly matters which way you walk it. Known as La Grassa, “The Fat One”, Bologna is Italy’s culinary capital, and Florence’s artistic heritage needs no introduction – but neither city is lacking in either respect, and nor is the countryside between them. To make the most of it, proceed at a leisurely pace, stopping for picnics in sunny glades, and use a tour operator such as Inntravel, which provides detailed route notes, reservations at the best village inns, and daily luggage transfers.

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