Via degli Dei in a group – Classic 6-day route

Info

Bologna, with its perfectly preserved medieval historic centre and its 40 km of UNESCO-listed porticoes, is the starting point; Florence, a World Heritage Site due to its significance in the history of world art, is the destination.

In between lies the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, with its highlights: the Contrafforte Pliocenico Nature Reserve, rich in fossils and shells dating back 4 million years; the “Flaminia militare”, a road built in 187 BC on the orders of the Roman consul C. Flaminius; and the Castello del Trebbio, commissioned by Cosimo I de’ Medici to dominate the Mugello valley. And then there is the Sanctuary of Monte Senario, where the friars offer walkers the liqueur ‘Gemma di abeto’, secretly prepared on site, and the town of Fiesole, which has always been regarded as the ‘terrace’ of Florence, but is also a jewel of a village in the Florentine hills, founded by the Etruscans.

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All this is the Via degli Dei, one of Italy’s most beloved walking routes, which we want to introduce you to at a leisurely pace through the places, flavours and people who live and work in this region 365 days a year. A route that is not difficult but challenging nonetheless!

Accommodation: we have selected small establishments that have been welcoming guests to our Apennines for generations. Rooms are double, triple or quadruple. As this is a group trip, a spirit of adaptability and community is required.

Price:

• €650.00 per person for groups of 7 or more participants;

Services included:

• Accommodation with breakfast in hotels, B&Bs and campsites (bungalows)
• Two tastings of local produce
• Pilgrimage credential
• GAE guide for the entire duration of the trip
• Luggage transfer between accommodation providers – 1 item only, maximum dimensions 55×40×20 cm
• Medical and luggage insurance
• Administration fee

Services not included:

• Single room supplement (subject to availability – not available in many accommodation providers and not always with an en-suite bathroom)
• Dinners, lunches, food, drinks and any extras not specified
• Tourist tax, where applicable, to be paid at the accommodation
• Transfers to/from Bologna and Florence
• Travel by public transport
• Cancellation insurance (optional)
• Anything not listed under ‘The price includes’

DATES 2026

29 March to 3 April – sold out

21 to 26 April

28 April to 3 May – sold out

19 to 24 May

31 May to 5 June – sold out

2 to 7 June

8 to 13 June – sold out

16–21 June – sold out

23–28 June

30 June–5 July

7–12 July

14–19 July

21–26 July

28 July–2 August

4–9 August

9–14 August

10–15 August

18–23 August

25–30 August

1–6 September

8–13 September

15–20 September

29 September–4 October

13–18 October

20–25 October

From 27 October to 1 November

Before booking, please note that:

A deposit of 150 euros per person (comprising a non-refundable administration fee of 50 euros and a 100-euro advance payment towards the trip) is required at the time of booking. This will be confirmed and processed by Appennino Slow.

The trek will go ahead once a minimum of 7 paying participants have been reached.

The guide reserves the right to amend the programme and itinerary depending on the composition of the group and the weather.

To encourage socialising and facilitate group dynamics, single rooms are not recommended and, in some places, will not be available at all.

Refund and changes:

• up to 31 days before the start of the trip: €50 per person for administrative costs;
• from 30 to 11 days before the start of the trip: 30% of the total cost of the package;
• from 10 to 4 days before the start of the trip: 50% of the total cost of the package;
• from 3 to 0 days before the start of the trip: 100 per cent of the total cost of the package holiday;

This package holiday is organised by Appennino Slow (IATR Sasso Marconi)

The sale of package holiday services is managed by Bologna Welcome Travel Agency.

Day 1: 20 km, (Elevation gain/loss: +330 m / -300 m)

from Bologna to Sasso Marconi

Meet the guide at 8.00 am at Bologna railway station. Hand over your luggage and set off towards Piazza Maggiore for the first leg of the journey, from Bologna to Sasso Marconi. After passing through the town centre, you will climb up to Colle della Guardia and the Basilica of San Luca, then descend to Parco Talon and walk alongside the River Reno as you leave the town behind.

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Day 2: 22.8 km (Elevation gain/loss: +1310 m/ - 680 m)

from Sasso Marconi to Monzuno

Set off from Sasso Marconi towards the Contrafforte Pliocenico Nature Reserve, first through the Prati di Mugnano and Monte del Frate, and finally the climb up to Monte Adone – one of the symbols of this route – which will be one of the unforgettable moments of this journey; keep an eye out for fossils on the descent! After a stretch of tarmac road, you’ll arrive at the small village of Monzuno.

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Day 3: 29 km (Elevation gain/loss: +1250 m / -1100 m)

from Monzuno to Monte di Fo'

Leaving Monzuno behind, you’ll resume your walk through a centuries-old chestnut grove and along the ridge of the main Emilian peaks to reach Madonna dei Fornelli. You are now in the heart of the Via degli Dei, and this will be an intense yet deeply moving stage: you will walk along several sections of the Flaminia Militare, a Roman road dating from 187 BC (but first, a quick pit stop for a tasting), before arriving at the largest Germanic cemetery in Italy, a symbol of a wound that has never healed.

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Day 4: 22.5 km (Elevation gain/loss: +700 m / -1,250 m)

From Monte di Fo’ to San Piero a Sieve

Today you’ll enter the Mugello valley, which the Medici family chose as the site of their residences (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Don’t miss the small, timeless village of Sant’Agata! Before reaching the end of the stage, stop for a refreshing tasting!

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Day 5: 20.2 km (Elevation gain/loss: +960 m / -710 m)

from San Piero a Sieve to Olmo

The Medici Fortress and Trebbio Castle will greet you on this day as we leave the Mugello behind and head into the Florentine hills. The highlight (in every sense!) of the walk will be the spectacular Convent of Monte Senario, at 815 metres above sea level, with a balcony offering a view from which you can mentally retrace your journey. Your well-deserved rest will be special: you’ll sleep with a view overlooking Florence!

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Day 6: 18.5 km (Elevation gain/loss: +400 m / -800 m)

from Olmo to Florence

The final day’s walk takes you through olive groves and cypress trees. Don’t rush to reach your destination; take some time to explore Fiesole, a terrace overlooking Florence, and its archaeological site – unknown to most but a true Italian gem. Then the descent towards Piazza della Signoria. Luggage drop-off at Santa Maria Novella station.

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We recommend booking your return train for 6.00 pm.

*The itinerary may be subject to slight changes on the first few stages depending on accommodation availability; the specific programme will be sent to you upon confirmation of your trip.

Stage 1: Bologna – Brento (29.3 km | +/–: +1,150 m/ – 770 m) or Bologna – Badolo (24.1 km | +800 m/ – 440 m)

Stage 2: Brento – Madonna dei Fornelli (21 km | +/–: +1,030 m/ – 580 m) or Badolo – Madonna dei Fornelli (27.2 km | +/–: +1,380 m/ – 1,020 m)

Stage 3 alt Madonna dei Fornelli – Santa Lucia (19.3 km | +/–: +/–: +760 m/ – 580 m)