Walking in Italy

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Places worth a visit

Northern Italy is formed by 2 areas:

• North-West: Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria
• North-East: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Emilia-Romagna

The best outdoor activity regions

• The Italian Alps that cover 6 regions:
• Aosta Valley. Full of skiing resorts. The region has Alpine glaciers, high peak mountains like the Gran Paradiso, the Mont Blanc and the Monte Rosa. There are also cross-country skiing circuits, the ice-skating rinks and, in summer, lots of itineraries for hikers and bikers.
• Piedmont.
• Friuli Venezia Giulia. The Alpine territory includes: the Carnia, the Julian Alps, the Friulian Dolomites of Valcellina. In the summer the region is an hot spot for hikes and walks in natural areas.
• Veneto is a region in the north-east of Italy. In Veneto there are the greatest natural beauties. A good examples are the Dolomites and their alpine tows in the surroundings. To visit:
• Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol is a region in Northern Italy. It consists of two provinces: Trento and Bolzano (Bozen). The region is very famous for the presence of the Dolomites mountains and the Stelvio National park. The Alpine territory includes: the Adamello-Presanella, Cevedale, the Brenta Dolomites, the Val di Fassa Dolomites, the Lagorai and the Pale di S.Martino chains.
• Lombardy is the richest region of Italy. Its capital is Milan.  Worth a visit: Pavia and Mantua
• The Dolomites (Dolomiti) are a section of the Alps mountain chain. Surely these mountains are the most beautiful in the Alps. They are famous tourist destination for:
• The presence of winter resorts
• The possibility to practice outdoor activities during the other months (Trekking, Climbing, Mountain biking)
• Liguria and the 5 terre. The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's among the most popular tourist areas of Italy. It's a region formed by five coastal villages in the province of La Spezia (Liguria region).
• Emilia Romagna, Bologna and the Apennines. The Emilia Romagna is one of the richest Italian regions. The capital is Bologna, famous for its cuisine tradition.

Travel Ideas

Bicycle tours

• Around the Po river - From Milano to Verona - A 8 days self guided bicycle trip from April to October for a total of 349 Km
• From Parma to Venezia or Ravenna - A 3 to 9 days independent bicycle tour
• Emilia Romagna in farm house - A 8 days cycling tour of km 333 available from 23/03 to 22/06 and from 07/09 to 26/10
• Vandelli the Dukes road in Mountain bike (Also available for trekking) - A 7 days self guided biking tour from April to October Total Km 146
• From the Dolomites to Trieste - An easy 8 days self guided tour of 310 KM
• South Tyrol…just so - A self guided bike tour of 8 days for 270 KM
• From the Dolomites to Venice - An easy 8 days self guided Biking tour of 280 KM
• From the Dolomites to the Lake Garda - An easy 7 days independent cycling tour of 260 KM

Trekking tours

• Via Romea, the Pilgrim's way - An easy 8 days hiking tour from April to October
• From Bozen to Venice - An easy independent tour of 7 days
• Hiking in the heart of South Tyrol - An easy 8 days trekking tour
• Hiking in the Dolomites natural parks - An easy 8 days self guided trekking

Skiing

• Cross Country ski safari in the Dolomites - A 8 days individual tour of 45-110 KM

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Places worth a visit

With this short list of hiking trips You can find the best places where walking and unexpected trekking ideas.

Italy is big, so it's hard to list all possible hiking spots.

Terrain has a great variety:

• Natural parks
• Mountains
• Tracks
• Historical cities
• Hill towns
• Country
• Coastal areas
• Lakes

Italy offers different kinds of itineraries:

• From place A to place B
• Loop tours
• Multi region tours

The best places where hike are without doubt:

• The National Parks have good hiking trails. Especially those in the mountain areas (See Alps, Dolomites and Abruzzi region)
• Worth a visit are the "Vie ferrate" in the Dolomites
• Garda lake in Lombardy's lake district is another great spot for hiking.
• The heart of Italy, Tuscany and Umbria, is the ideal region to join walking and cultural visit. The territory is rich of medieval cities (Florence, Pisa, Siena, etc…) and food and wine regions to taste the Italian cuisine.
• The Ligurian riviera with the Cinque terre (5 lands) is another good place for walking. It's a coast area formed by 5 little sea towns in the province of La Spezia.
• In the South of Italy worth a visit are the Amalfi coast in the Naples bay, the Gargano natural trails (Apulia) and Sicily with the majestic Mount Etna.

Travel Ideas

• [Bologna to Florence] Via Romea, the Pilgrim's way - An easy 8 days hiking tour from April to October
• Trekking in the National Park of Abruzzo - A 7 days self guided tour available from June to September
• From Bozen to Venice - An easy independent tour of 7 days
• Hiking in the heart of South Tyrol - An easy 8 days trekking tour
• Hiking in the Dolomites natural parks - An easy 8 days self guided trekking
• 7 days independent tour Siena and Val D'Orcia
• 7 Days self guided tour  in the Chianti: Florence to Siena
• 8 days Self guided Trek - Naples, Capri Pompeii and the Amalfi coast - A medium difficulty trekking available all the year
• 8 days Guided Trekking - The Italy's Volcanoes: Stromboli and Etna - A medium difficulty trekking available from March to October

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Places worth a visit

Apulia is a region in south-eastern Italy on the Adriatic Sea. It's the heel of the Italian "boot" (Also called Salento peninsula)

The region is rich of natural resources and parks.

• The main is the Gargano. It offers different natural environments and It's a place where find the routes of migratory birds between Europe and Africa.

The Gargano's coast is formed by gorgeous natural caves and arcs.

It's the ideal place for bikers. The territory is rich of roads that circle the mountain.

• Inland on the mountain there is the Forest Umbra, a protected beech, oak, and pine forest with trails and campsites.
• In the coastal villages there are Greek villages like Rodi, Peschici, and Vieste.
• Another great sight is Monte Sant'Angelo, a town in the province of Foggia on the southern slopes of Monte Gargano.

The town is famous for the presence of the Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo, built in the 13th century by Charles I of Anjou.

Other sights of the town are:

• The Castle of Monte Sant'Angelo
• The Tomb of Rothari (Baptistry of San Giovanni in Tumba).
• The church of Santa Maria Maggiore (11th-12th centuries).
• The Abbey of Pulsano
• Alberobello (an UNESCO world heritage site) is another well known tourist sight in Apulia. It's the Capital of the Trulli, unique buildings present only in Apulia.
• Ostuni is a small city in the province of Brindisi. The town is known for its nearby pristine beaches, olive and grape business. The landscape is dominated by olive trees.

Travel Ideas

The spur of the Mediterranean

A 8 days self guided hiking trip

• Day 1: Individual arrival in Bari, visit of the city, transfer in Ostuni and accommodation
• Day 2: Ostuni – Hermitage of San Biagio – Transfer in Alberobello
• Day 3: Valle d’Itria: Martina Franca – Locorotondo and Alberobello
• Day 4: Matera and National Park of the Murgia
• Day 5: National Park of the Gargano and Monte S.Angelo
• Day 6: Foresta Umbra – Transfer and visit of Vieste, return in Monte S.Angelo
• Day 7: Gargano promontory – Hermitage of Pulsano – Bari
• Day 8: transfer in Bari and departure

Apulia - The heart of Mediterranean

An easy 8 days self guided bicycle tour of approx. 300 km

• 1st day: Individual arrival at the hotel in Alberobello.
• 2nd day: Alberobello – Ostini (approx. 40 km)
• 3rd day: Ostuni – Manduria/surroundings (approx. 47 km)
• 4th day: Manduria/surroundings – Gallipoli (approx. 65 km)
• 5th day: Gallipoli - Santa Maria di Leuca (approx. 45 km)
• 6th day: Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto (approx. 52 km)
• 7th day: Otranto – Lecce (approx. 60 km)
• 8th day: Individual departure or extension of your stay

How to get there and move around

By plane

• Bari Palese international airport has flights to national and international destinations.
• Brindisi airport there are flights to Switzerland, UK and Italian destinations.

By train - Train from Rome can take about 6 hours.

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Places worth a visit

The Mezzogiorno (southern Italy), is litterary different in respect to the Northern one. It's formed by Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Apulia, and Sicily.

Insular Italy includes two major islands (Sicily and Sardinia) plus a great number of archipelagoes and minor islands.

The territory is different

• Hill
• Country
• Sea
• Ancient towns
• Little islands

Worth a visit

• Campania and the Amalfi coast, famous for the presence of art, history and nature.
• Sicily and its 2 volcanoes: Etna and Stromboli
• Apulia and Gargano, the heel of the Italian "boot", rich of natural parks.
• The national park of Abruzzo, the region with the highest density of natural parks of Italy.
• Sardinia and the "Grand canyon of Europe".
• Italy's volcanoes: Vesuvius, Mt. Etna and Stromboli

Travel Ideas

Trekking in the National Park of Abruzzo - A 7 days self guided tour available from June to September

• Day 1: individual arrival in Civitella Alfedena
• Day 2: excursion to Lago Vivo
• Day 3: excursion to Gole del Sangro and Lago di Barrea
• Day 4: excursion to Val di Rose
• Day 5: excursion to Camosciara and Pescasseroli
• Day 6: excursion to Monte Marsicano
• Day 7: Departure

The spur of the Mediterranean - A 8 days self guided hiking trip

• Day 1: Individual arrival in Bari, visit of the city, transfer in Ostuni and accommodation
• Day 2: Ostuni – Hermitage of San Biagio – Transfer in Alberobello
• Day 3: Valle d’Itria: Martina Franca – Locorotondo and Alberobello
• Day 4: Matera and National Park of the Murgia
• Day 5: National Park of the Gargano and Monte S.Angelo
• Day 6: Foresta Umbra – Transfer and visit of Vieste, return in Monte S.Angelo
• Day 7: Gargano promontory – Hermitage of Pulsano – Bari
• Day 8: transfer in Bari and departure

8 days Self guided Trek - Naples, Capri Pompeii and the Amalfi coast - A medium difficulty trekking available all the year

• The tour begins in Naples where you'll stay for the first 3 nights.
• From here you will take the ferryboat to Procidia and for Capri in the gulf of Naples.
• Visit to Pompeii and then to Agerola.
• From there you can explore Amalfi, Positano and Ravello.

8 Days Self Guided Walking tour - The Aeolian Islands and MT Etna - A medium difficulty trip available from April to October

• Day 1: Arrival and accommodation in Catania, visit of the city
• Day 2: Transfer to the Aeolian Islands, trekking on Lipari island. Night in Lipari
• Day 3: Hydrofoil to Vulcano, hiking up to the crater and tour of the rim. Night in Lipari
• Day 4: Hydrofoil to Stromboli. Trekking to 400 mt to see the "Sciara del Fuoco"
• Day 5: Relax in the morning and trek on the top of the volcano at the sun set
• Day 6: Hydrofoil to Milazzo and transfer to the southern side of Mt Etna. Short walk, dinner and night
• Day 7: The summit craters of Mt Etna (3350 mt).
• Day 8: Transfer to Catania airport.