If you are looking for an epic walk, to rediscover yourself and to get away from the hustle and bustle by immersing yourself in nature, you absolutely must walk the Via degli Dei, which retraces an ancient military road that connected Bologna to Florence and that will show you unspoilt landscapes, beech forests and villages suspended in time.
TheVia degli Dei is about 130 metres long and retraces the ancient road used already in Roman times, the Flaminia Militare, which connected the ancient city of Felsina, today's Bologna, with Fiesole and Florence.
The Way of the Gods
Travelling the ancient Flaminia Militare you can travel, on foot or by bicycle, from Bologna to Florence along a 130 km route that passes through the silence of the forests and the wonders of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.
Along the way you will pass through huge beech forests, along the rolling hills of Mugello and the stone towers of Monte Adone: these are just some of the wonderful landscapes that will open up before your eyes. Along the Via degli Dei you will stop to sleep in agritourisms, campsites and B&Bs. At each stage you can discover the excellence of the territory and the often ingenious combinations of Emilian and Tuscan cuisine. The height difference covers 1460 metres, so it is within the reach of all travellers, and of moderately trained cyclists.
We start from Piazza Maggiore to climb up to San Luca and follow the Lungo Reno to Sasso Marconi and on to the Contrafforte Pliocenico. You arrive at Piazza della Signoria in Florence via Fiesole, from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city from above. It takes 4-6 days to walk the route.
Stages and Route
Stage 1: Bologna - Sasso Marconi - Badolo
Stage 2: Badolo - Monzuno
Stage 3: Madonna dei Fornelli - Passo della Futa - Monte di Fo'
Stage 4: Monte di Fo' - Osteria Bruciata Pass - San Piero a Sieve
Stage 5: San Piero a Sieve - Bivigliano
Stage 6: Bivigliano - Fiesole - Florence
Italy
