Nel cammin del mezzo di nostra vita

[Maladict]

Split from pedrito's Compostella thread.

It would appear my midlife crisis may take the shape of a walk to the land of Dante.

[Maladict]

And what's up with the meta-theme of the trip?

Are you doing a reverse "Spanish Road?" 

I used to live in Venice for a short while, it's a special place for me. And I get to string together a lot of regions I'm unfamiliar with and always wanted to visit. Huertgen forest, the Ardennes, the Moselle valley, the Vosges and Alsace mountains, the Black Forest and of course some Alpine passes.

The dream (tm) is to go on to Rome, and then follow the Via Appia to Brindisi, cross over to Albania and follow the Via Egnatia to Constantinople.
Incidentally mirroring my literary hero Patrick Leigh Fermor's 1930s walk from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople, albeit by a completely different route.

But five years to reach Venice is enough of a challenge for now.

[Admiral Yi]

Wicked cool.

[garbon]

and follow the Via Egnatia to Constantinople.

Interesting, they have whole guide books on this.

https://www.viaegnatiafoundation.eu/index.php/guide-book/ve-on-foot

[mongers]

And what's up with the meta-theme of the trip?

Are you doing a reverse "Spanish Road?" 

I used to live in Venice for a short while, it's a special place for me. And I get to string together a lot of regions I'm unfamiliar with and always wanted to visit. Huertgen forest, the Ardennes, the Moselle valley, the Vosges and Alsace mountains, the Black Forest and of course some Alpine passes.

The dream (tm) is to go on to Rome, and then follow the Via Appia to Brindisi, cross over to Albania and follow the Via Egnatia to Constantinople.
Incidentally mirroring my literary hero Patrick Leigh Fermor's 1930s walk from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople, albeit by a completely different route.

But five years to reach Venice is enough of a challenge for now.

Beautiful idea, Mal.

[Pedrito]

hey Mal,

if you need a fellow in wanderlust, just let me know and I'll be more than happy to share some roads with you.
About italian hiking trails, I can suggest the guides by Terre di Mezzo, that mainly focuses on the old pilgrim ways - via Francigena, Spanish caminos, etc. -, whose guides are rather well done, full of useful info, maps and addresses: https://www.terre.it/categoria-prodotto/collane/percorsi/

If you want to cross the Alps and like some mountain hiking, the Alta Via n. 1 is by far the most scenic high way of the entire range. It crosses the Dolomites from val Pusteria (Toblach) to Belluno, is very well served with different refuges and huts, is NOT an alpine trail (no need of via ferrata or climbing equipment) and you'll walk along some really wonderful mountains.

L.

[Maladict]

hey Mal,

if you need a fellow in wanderlust, just let me know and I'll be more than happy to share some roads with you.
About italian hiking trails, I can suggest the guides by Terre di Mezzo, that mainly focuses on the old pilgrim ways - via Francigena, Spanish caminos, etc. -, whose guides are rather well done, full of useful info, maps and addresses: https://www.terre.it/categoria-prodotto/collane/percorsi/

If you want to cross the Alps and like some mountain hiking, the Alta Via n. 1 is by far the most scenic high way of the entire range. It crosses the Dolomites from val Pusteria (Toblach) to Belluno, is very well served with different refuges and huts, is NOT an alpine trail (no need of via ferrata or climbing equipment) and you'll walk along some really wonderful mountains.

L.

Well, as it turns out Belluno is the end point of Year 4 ( provisional), so that is definitely going to be looked into   

Padova also made the cut in Year 5. The very last day will be spent walking down the Brenta to Fusina where I'll take a boat into Venice, like Goethe did. So I guess I'll see you in 2024   

[Maladict]

Interesting, they have whole guide books on this.

https://www.viaegnatiafoundation.eu/index.php/guide-book/ve-on-foot

I know. I thought I had an original idea for once 

[merithyn]

You guys are giving me so many ideas for later trips.... I may spend my retirement years walking around the world.

[Maladict]

First 40km of the year last Sunday, through woods, heath, grasslands, the star fortress of Naarden and Muiden castle.




Not as impressive from the ground, but still pretty cool.

[merithyn]

Beautiful.

I'm thinking that I need to include at least some serious walking on my upcoming trip. Mallorca was always going to be mostly walking as there really isn't a lot else to do there in the winter. Barcelona will include hiking up to Montejuic (sp?). Now I have to come up with something similar in the other cities.

[Maladict]

Walk the Appian Way in Rome, from the Quintilian villa all the way into the city centre. It's only about 10k, but a ton of stuff to see and mostly free of cars. Or double the distance and start in Castel Gandolfo.

[merithyn]

Walk the Appian Way in Rome, from the Quintilian villa all the way into the city centre. It's only about 10k, but a ton of stuff to see and mostly free of cars. Or double the distance and start in Castel Gandolfo.

*adds to planning document

[The Larch]

Beautiful.

I'm thinking that I need to include at least some serious walking on my upcoming trip. Mallorca was always going to be mostly walking as there really isn't a lot else to do there in the winter. Barcelona will include hiking up to Montejuic (sp?). Now I have to come up with something similar in the other cities.

Montjuic is not really a hike, as it's within Barcelona itself, more like a long walking day in the city.

Concur about the Via Appia, it's basically a huge open air archeological museum. If the weather is nice and you want to walk or bike, it's the place to go in Rome.

[Maladict]

Concur about the Via Appia, it's basically a huge open air archeological museum. If the weather is nice and you want to walk or bike, it's the place to go in Rome.

There's a nasty stretch between the Quo Vadis church and the city walls with heavy traffic and no sidewalk. Don't let it put you off (but don't get run over), inside the walls the goodness continues.