In the Heart of the Via degli Dei, tailor-made
Three days between Emilia and Tuscany, along the most memorable stretch of the Via degli Dei.
Over these three days, you will experience the heart of the Via degli Dei, following your own pace through some of the most iconic and meaningful landscapes of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. You will cross the ancient cliffs of the Contrafforte Pliocenico, where fossils and seashells emerge, telling the story of a prehistoric sea, and walk along the most evocative sections of the Flaminia Militare, the Roman road built in 187 BC that still preserves the timeless charm of great historic routes.
The route will lead you along silent ridgelines, centuries-old chestnut forests and small villages that live to the slow rhythm of the mountains. You will reach the German Military Cemetery of the Futa Pass, the largest in Italy: a powerful place of remembrance, where the landscape preserves the marks of the events that passed through these valleys.
This more compact version of the Via degli Dei allows you to experience its essence without haste, with the freedom of walking independently and the peace of mind of knowing that everything you need is already organised: accommodation booked, luggage transport, assistance and support throughout the journey. Stage after stage, you will meet people, flavours and stories that preserve the identity of the Apennines, allowing you to immerse yourself in the authentic atmosphere of the trail.
Program
Day 1
We will meet in the centre of Monzuno, where we will welcome you for luggage drop-off and a short briefing before departure.
We will leave the village by entering a centuries-old chestnut forest, following the ridge that overlooks the main Emilian peaks. We will continue immersed in the mountain landscape until reaching Madonna dei Fornelli, a small Apennine village that marks the entrance into the heart of the Via degli Dei.
On request, the stage can be extended by starting from Badolo (+17 km) or Brento (+13 km).
Day 2
We will continue towards the Apennine ridge, entering the most historic section of the trail. We will walk along long stretches of the Flaminia Militare, the ancient Roman road from 187 BC, walking on its original stones set among beech forests.
We will then cross the Futa Pass, where we will visit the largest German Military Cemetery in Italy, a place of memory and silence. We will finally reach Monte di Fò, where we will find rest and hospitality at the end of an intense and evocative day.
Day 3
Today we will descend into the green Mugello valley, a land chosen by the Medici as the preferred setting for their residences, now recognised as UNESCO World Heritage.
We will cross woodlands and historic roads until reaching the small village of Sant’Agata, where time seems to have stood still. We will then continue towards San Piero a Sieve, the final point of our journey, from where you can conveniently return by train to Florence or Faenza.
On request, we can add an extra stage starting from Sasso Marconi (4-day itinerary).
Additional nights and dedicated transfers are available.
The price includes
- Overnight stay with breakfast
- Welcome and briefing on the day of departure
- Trail credential
- Map and printed guidebook (1 per group)
- Luggage transport from one accommodation to another – 1 item only, max size 55×40×20 cm
- Medical and luggage insurance
- Administrative handling fee
The price does not include
- Single room supplement (subject to availability – not available in many accommodations and not always with a private bathroom)
- Dinners, lunches, food, drinks and extras not specified
- Tourist tax, where applicable, to be paid on site
- Transfers to/from Bologna and Florence
- Public transportation
- Any transfers to skip a stage
- Cancellation insurance (optional)
- Anything not listed under “The price includes”
How to get there
Monzuno is easily reachable by train thanks to the Monzuno–Vado station, connected to the Bologna–Prato line. From here, you can reach the town centre with a short bus ride or by taxi.
At the end of the walk, San Piero a Sieve allows for an easy return: the railway station is served by frequent connections towards Florence and Faenza.
Luggage
For luggage transport, we ask you to limit yourself to one item only (max 55×40×20 cm).
Accommodation
For this journey, we have chosen small, locally run accommodations, managed by families and hosts who for generations have kept the tradition of hospitality in the Apennines alive. Some accommodations are simple and basic: precisely for this reason, they allow you to enjoy an authentic, genuine experience deeply connected to the territory.
Notes
To confirm your booking, a deposit of €100.00 per person is required: €50.00 as an administrative handling fee (non-refundable) and €50.00 as a deposit towards the trip.
To ensure we can meet your requests, we recommend submitting your booking at least 15 days in advance. This becomes 30 days during June, July and August, as well as for departures close to public holidays and long weekends.
If the booking is made within 30 days prior to departure, full payment will be required immediately.