It’s not easy to find new superlatives to describe Italy and its people. The magnificent countryside, the warm and spontaneous hospitality of its people, the cuisine, its history and culture, are all rightly world famous. There is though, a way to enjoy all of these things to the fullest extent possible – and that’s by taking a walking in Italy holiday.
Escaping to Italy
“A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority”
The above saying is attributed to Dr Samuel Johnson in the 18th century. It’s hard not to feel that there’s some truth in this because Italy has so much to offer as a holiday destination.
Firstly, there are the cities – the homes of stunning architecture, history and art. Whenever people are asked about famous architecture to see in the world, you can be sure that names such as Venice, Pisa, Rome and Florence will all come to mind.
Then there is the countryside with its mountains, hills, valleys, vineyards, coastline, beaches, islands and of course, even volcanoes!
Italy is also famous for its gastronomy. Italian food, if well prepared, is simply breathtaking and many experts (and not just the Italian ones!) argue that Italian cuisine stands easily on a par with that of the French.
Add to this the Italian people themselves and what more could you ask for in a holiday?
Modern tourism in Italy
Italy was one of the modern world’s first mass tourism markets and was developed as such in the 1950s and 1960s. This brought significant prosperity to some parts of Italy but as always, with it came the challenges of crowds and a certain degree of ‘internationalisation’ that is common in many beautiful tourist destinations. Today, finding the ‘real Italy’ is still possible – even at the very centre of some of its most popular destinations. One way to achieve this, is through a walking in Italy holiday.
Walking in Italy – Experiencing Life
There are two main reasons why you may want to consider such a holiday:
•You just like walking and exploring on foot.
•You want to get off the usual routes and get in closer touch with Italy and the Italians.
If you’re not familiar with walking holidays, let’s deal with one misperception – they are NOT geared up for supermen/women. There is a very large range of such holidays that are available and will suit all fitness ranges and interests. Many are very gentle and undemanding and certainly suitable for the more mature holidaymaker. Guided walks are a great way of getting away from the worst of the crowds and those overly familiar tourist itineraries. You have the opportunity, for example, to explore isolated coastal paths or hidden coves.
Perhaps you’re more interested in mountaintop villages where you can be dropped a comfortable distance from your destination and from there continue on foot, experiencing the country as you go.
If you enjoy Italian wine, you may like to explore some vineyards under the expert eye of your tour leader who can explain in detail all those things that conventional tourists just don’t have the time to see and hear.
Even in the city centres, walking from one site to another and using your tour leader’s knowledge to arrive at the best times, will help you see and understand far more than may be possible from the windows of a coach. Walking in Italy can help you see the country as Italians see it.
Walking in Italy – an experience but also a holiday
The modern Italian walking holiday doesn’t assume you’re still a teenage back packer that is happy roughing it. The range of holidays varies, but the accommodation and facilities provided will always be gauged from comfortable right up to luxurious if that’s what you want. Breaks are available from just a few days right up to a few weeks. They can be centred on one concept, such as coastal explorations in Sicily, or you can take split holidays that involve a week of walks in the countryside around Vesuvius and Pompeii, combined with a few days walking around one (or more) of the great cities.
Walking in Italy can be a joy when the guided walks are undertaken with a good tour leader and in a well planned environment. Have fun!
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