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Trekking: why it's good for you and 10 unmissable excursions in Italy
By Naturale Bio
Whoever loves him, loves him madly. Those who say they don't love it have often simply never tried it or haven't done it in the right place, at the right pace and with the right company.
Let's talk about trekking, the slow and constant walk to discover mountains, hills, coasts, peaks and lakes, waterfalls and natural parks.
Backpack on your shoulder, a bottle of fresh water, the right clothing – comfortable and breathable, layered to be ready for all climates – a light and nutritious lunch packed with a bag and comfortable boots. We are ready to walk together!
Hiking, trekking or hiking?
There are several terms that can be used to describe the activity of walking in nature. For purists, they have different meanings, although they are often used simply as synonyms.
Technically, in fact, thehikingwould be a walk of a few hours, while thetrekking envisages covering a long stretch of paths over several days of walking.
Hiking is a general term, which summarizes them all, while there is also the so-called back-packing, which alludes precisely to the fact of having the backpack in shoulders as you proceed.
Why walking in the mountains is good for body and mind
As already mentioned for Nordic walking, walking in general is one of the healthiest activities you can do.
This is because it is a medium intensity effort that is maintained for an average long time, which allows you to burn a lot of calories and fat, train your heart and improve your breathing capacity.
Not only that, the right technique, with the help of trekking poles, allows you to make less effort and proceed with the right posture, strengthening the muscles not only of the legs, but also the abdominals and the back, arms and shoulders.
And the benefits are not just physical, on the contrary. Trekking is good for the mind, mood and relationships.
10 summer walks in Italy
It's difficult to choose just 10: there are thousands of itineraries and paths to follow on foot, with a backpack on your back, throughout Italy, all splendid, in still uncontaminated nature.
You are spoiled for choice in terms of difficulty, type of landscape, differences in altitude and slopes, mileage, day trips or real trekking trips to be divided over several days, perhaps armed with a tent and sleeping bag.
The destination can be different: a refuge at high altitude where you can enjoy a refreshing lunch or a suggestive waterfall to photograph or, even, a beach where you can swim.
In fact, even if the word trekking is normally associated only with the mountain in its most "alpine" sense, in reality there are beautiful routes overlooking the sea, which mix the love of differences in altitude with crazy views of the coasts and expanses of blue.
Let's try to select 10 in 10 different regions, from north to south of the Bel Paese:
- Val d'Aosta – The Gran Balconata del Cervino, or path 107, is a splendid itinerary at high altitude, a high route that passes through several villages in the Valtournenche area. Can be done in its entirety over several days, it is also possible to "break it up" and enjoy day trips by walking individual sections, for example from the towns of Torgnon, Chamois, Antey-Saint-André up to Breuil-Cervinia.
- Piedmont – A small jewel of the VCO, at the foot of the magnificent eastern face of the Monte Rosa Massif, is the village of Macugnaga. A very nice and simple tour, to be done even in the company of children, is the one around the blue basin of Lago delle Fate.
- Lombardy – Val di Mello, in the province of Sondrio, is a narrow valley with truly beautiful paths to walk and more: here the love of walking combines with that of climbing, given that the walls and boulders in the area, shaped by the action of atmospheric agents, are much loved by climbing and bouldering enthusiasts.
- Trentino – Every path in Trentino is worth walking, that's for sure. But few areas are as suggestive as that around the Pale di San Martino: well-marked itineraries immersed in a setting that in many respects is reminiscent of Yosemite and the Great Parks of the USA!
- Liguria – If we say trekking and Liguria, we say Cinque Terre! This splendid area on the border between the province of La Spezia and Tuscany combines mountain and sea for itineraries overlooking the blue.
- Tuscany – The Tuscan hills are much loved by both walkers and cyclists, because the slopes are gentle and the views are incredible. An original idea is to organize a few days of trekking on the Island of Elba.
- Emilia-Romagna – In Italy there are also so-called “paths”, routes that combine the desire to cover kilometers with a desire for spirituality. 6 stages of the Via Francigena pass through Emilia-Romagna, crossing splendid ancient villages such as Berceto.
- Campania – The Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast is a dream for those who love combining mountains and sea. A path of about 8km from Agerola to Positano, not difficult but still challenging due to the heat it can get in summer: be careful to always be well hydrated and protected from the sun!
- Matera – Awarded many times for good reason, because it is truly evocative and beautiful, Matera is not only a historic village rich in architectural beauty, it is also surrounded by the Murgia Park. Between wild nature and rock paintings, every step is a discovery.
- Sicily – The Zingaro Reserve, in the north-west area of the island near San Vito Lo Capo, is a jewel of perfectly preserved nature, a stretch of rocky coast to be discovered step by step, intoxicated by the scent of the Mediterranean scrub and refreshed with a bath in one of the many coves along the path!
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