Romagna Slow
News
Wild About Travel Blog: Detailed travelogue about the hike to La Verna
Simon Falvo is a travel-loving hiker, passionate photographer, lecturer at travel workshops and training courses and author of the international travel blog "Wild About Travel". On her blog, she writes about the 118 km hike led by Romagna Slow from Rimini to La Verna, the first stage of the 620 km pilgrimage of Saint Francis from Rimini via Assisi to Rome:
"Over the last few years, I’ve grown increasingly fond of slow travel, places off the beaten track, and long-distance hikes. That’s why I was thrilled to walk the Way of St Francis – Cammino di San Francesco in Italian -, starting in Rimini and leading to La Verna. I got to discover the stunning landscapes of inland Emilia-Romagna. And it’s been an incredible experience. [...] Even as a non-religious person, or only from a different faith, walking in the footsteps of St Francis is a journey through history and universal values."
"Day 3: We start our walk, and it looks like San Leo doesn’t want us to forget how beautiful it is. For a long while, the sight of the town and the fortress perched on the steep cliff follows us. Seen from a distance, San Leo is all the most impressive. The view of the rock that seems to have emerged from the earth is magic. As we hike further, the scenery becomes wilder and more intriguing. When I thought the landscape could hardly get more beautiful, we reached the clay ravines of Maioletto. [...] Surrounded by lush meadows and colorful wildflowers, we reach
Botticella, the highest point at 786m (2,487ft). One last effort, a
little more than 2km (1.2mi) downhill, to reach our destination,
Sant’Agata Feltria. As we approach, the town emerges from the meadows,
with the castle towering top the hill. It’s been a long day, and I feel tired but unbelievably happy. I just loved day 3 of the Cammino di San Francesco."
"I visited Emilia Romagna several times, and know about their hospitality, but here we felt the quintessence of the unique generosity of the people from this region. Food, of course, plays a vital role, since in Italy it’s a love affair, as well as the pleasure to gather and share special moments. Emilia Romagna food specialties are a pleasure for the eyes and … a joy for the belly."
"I started the last leg feeling both excited and a little sad. I was loving the Cammino di San Francesco every day more, having a fantastic time with my guide Alessia, and would have loved to hike longer. The landscape did also play a significant role. The more we adventured inland in the Apennines, the wilder the scenery. Those who know me are aware that I love wild and isolated places, where you barely meet another soul and feel like one and (almost) the same with nature. I like being surrounded by only the sounds of nature: chirping birds, cracking dry trees, the soft whistle of the breeze, and the murmuring leaves. The path goes through the woods and the meadows until we reach Poggio dei Tre Vescovi (the Hills of the Three Bishops 1,238m / 4,062ft), which marks the border between Emilia Romagna and Tuscany. The view from there is breathtaking. Not a single house, even small. Only nature."
"Having reached the end of this long-distance hike, I’m sure about one thing. The Cammino di San Francesco from Rimini to La Verna truly surprised me, with its superb landscapes, charming villages, and welcoming people. If you want to travel slow, savor every moment, and discover Italy off the beaten path, you should spend some time in this incredible area."
Walking the St Francis Way, from Rimini to La Verna. The complete guide:
Romagna Slow becomes a reality and offers walks on the Pilgrim's Path of Saint Francis to La Verna
In 2016, the "Romagna Slow" project wins the 2nd prize in the "New Ideas, New Enterprises" competition, a competition that creates new companies from promising, innovative ideas. The dream is to make the hiking trails that run through Romagna and Montefeltro known to the general public. A network of medieval trails that combine the historical, artistic, archaeological, natural and scenic resources of our hinterland to create a fascinating entity for hikers and nature-loving tourists from Italy and around the world.
Complete article, in Italian language: