Via degli Dei, tailor-made in 4 days
Four days of walking, between Emilia and Tuscany, in the heart of the Apennines.
In four days, you will experience one of the most spectacular and symbolic sections of the Via degli Dei, crossing the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines from Sasso Marconi to San Piero a Sieve. A compact yet content-rich itinerary, perfect for discovering the essence of this route, among nature, history and Apennine landscapes.
From the very first steps, you will enter the Contrafforte Pliocenico Nature Reserve, a unique environment where fossils and shells dating back millions of years emerge from the rock. You will then climb towards Monte Adone, one of the true icons of the Via degli Dei, offering vast panoramic views over the Apennines.
The walk continues through ancient chestnut groves, panoramic ridgelines and forests until you reach Madonna dei Fornelli, the heart of the route. From here, you will tackle the most fascinating stretch: the Flaminia Militare, the ancient Roman road from 187 BC, which still preserves long sections of its original stone paving.
You will then reach the German Military Cemetery at Futa Pass, the largest in Italy, a place of remembrance and silence that tells the story of the wounds of recent history. After crossing the pass, the landscape will gradually change, opening up towards the Mugello valley, a land deeply connected to the history of the Medici.
The arrival in San Piero a Sieve will mark the end of this walking journey through some of the most representative places along the Via degli Dei. An itinerary to be experienced independently, at your own pace, with the peace of mind of having everything taken care of: booked accommodations, luggage transport and dedicated support.
Program
Day 1
We will meet at the Sasso Marconi train station, where you will meet one of our staff members, hand over your luggage, and have a short briefing before setting off. We will immediately enter the heart of the Via degli Dei, climbing towards the Contrafforte Pliocenico Nature Reserve through the Prati di Mugnano and along the slopes of Monte del Frate.
We will then tackle the spectacular climb to Monte Adone, one of the symbolic places along the route, among rocky cliffs, fossils and ever-wider views. We will then descend towards Monzuno, where we will stop for a well-deserved rest.
Day 2
We will set off again leaving Monzuno behind and entering an increasingly Apennine landscape. We will walk through ancient chestnut groves, forests and stretches of panoramic ridgeline, following the natural line of the mountains.
It will be a shorter stage, but rich in atmosphere, leading us to Madonna dei Fornelli, long considered the beating heart of the Via degli Dei.
Day 3
Today we will enter the most iconic section of the route. From Madonna dei Fornelli we will begin to walk along long stretches of the Flaminia Militare, the ancient Roman road from 187 BC, where the original stone paving is still perfectly visible.
We will cross woods and ridgelines until we reach the German Military Cemetery at Futa Pass, the largest in Italy, a place of silence and deep remembrance. We will then continue on to Monte di Fo’, immersed in an increasingly open landscape.
Day 4
We will leave the higher elevations behind to gradually descend into the Mugello valley, a land historically linked to the Medici family. We will cross increasingly gentle landscapes, alternating between forests and cultivated hills, and we will stop in the timeless little village of Sant’Agata.
We will then continue on to San Piero a Sieve, where our walk will come to an end.
The price includes
- Overnight stay with breakfast
- Welcome and briefing on the day of departure
- Trail Passport
- Map and printed guidebook (1 per group)
- Luggage transport from one accommodation to another – 1 item only, max size 55×40×20 cm
- 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
Sasso Marconi is easily reachable by train thanks to frequent regional connections from Bologna Centrale: the journey takes about 20 minutes. If you are arriving from other cities, you can refer to Bologna station, which is well connected by high-speed trains, and from there continue by regional train.
At the end of the walk, San Piero a Sieve will allow you to return easily: the train station is served by frequent connections towards Florence and Faenza.
Luggage
For luggage transport, we ask you to limit yourself to 1 item only (max 55×40×20 cm).
Accommodation
For this journey, we have selected 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 €150.00 per person is required: €50.00 as an administrative handling fee (non-refundable) and €100.00 as a deposit towards the trip.
To ensure we can best meet your requests, we recommend submitting your booking at least 15 days in advance, which 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 of departure, full payment will be required immediately.