The new trend: slow down. Alternative travellers love exploring the world calmly, taking all the time they need. On foot or by bicycle, the aim is to rediscover the true essence of travel by enjoying every instant.
From Santiago to the Ciclopista del Sole, here are some ideas for travelling… slowly
Camino de Santiago. This ancient pilgrimage route is taken every year by thousands of pilgrims, and their numbers are growing constantly: from 2,900 in 1987 to 301,000 today.
And when it comes to slow travel, Italy too offers an array of opportunities.
Via Francigena. From the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome, this route is dubbed the “Italian Camino de Santiago”; loved by locals and tourists alike, the number of walkers grows exponentially each year.
Via degli Dei. An evocative route particularly for its historic importance, this links Bologna and Florence and is 130 km long. The easiness of the route makes it suitable for everyone: in the past few years increasing numbers of travellers have risen to the challenge, clocking up the miles during the day and resting at night in one of the many establishments dotting the route.
Cammino di Assisi. This route connects La Verna in Rome with a number of places bearing witness to the life and preaching of the Saint of Assisi.
Coast to Coast, crossing from the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian coast along a 400 km route.
The Ciclopista del Sole: for bicycle lovers this is a 3,000 km cycle-touring route conceived by the FIAB with the aim of travelling from the North Cape to Malta.
