The origins of Tuscany's hiking trails, traveling through history

Among the best-known paths is undoubtedly the Via Francigena, which crosses all of Tuscany, running for 380 kilometers from north to south, from the wooded lands of Lunigiana to the last edges of Val d'Orcia. The itinerary follows the route of Archbishop Sigeric, who traveled between Italy and England; in the year 990, Sigeric received the Pallium directly from the Pope, and on his return journey from Rome to Canterbury he recorded the stages - referred to as "stops" - in a journal. It was from the archbishop's notes that the official itinerary of the Via Francigena, which traces its route, came into being.

Similar to the history of the Via Francigena is the origin of the Via Romea Germanica, linked not to a travel journey but to a 13th-century report by Albert of Stade, abbot and historian of the monastery of the Virgin Mary in Stade, Germany. One of his best-known works is the Annales Stadenses, written by the abbot after meeting the pope in Rome; the Annales contain, in the form of a short story, an imaginary dialogue between two friars, Firri and Tirri, who discuss which is the best way to reach Rome. One of the two asserts that the "Melior Via" is indeed the Romea Germanica - historically also known as the Via di Stade - and describes in detail its itinerary, that is, the stretch traveled by Albert of Stade himself on his return journey to Germany. Today in Tuscany it counts 7 stages.

The 5 stages of the Via Matildica, instead, cross part of the domains of Matilda of Tuscany, an important figure of the Middle Ages who was responsible for the construction of churches, hospitals and bridges. The territory that stretched under the noblewoman's control was vast, and it represented an important connection point between the seat of the Holy See and the realms of northern Europe. In the Tuscan section, the itinerary crosses Apennine passes that open onto vast views and places of great charm, such as the Devil's Bridge (Ponte del Diavolo) which, beyond the legend, seems to owe its construction to Matilda herself. Coinciding in part with the Via del Volto Santo, the Matildica descends until it reaches Lucca and the precious statue preserved in the Duomo of the city.

Among the places linked to St. Francis of Assisi, a network of paths has sprung up that has taken the name Via di Francesco (the Way of St. Francis) and which crosses the territories of Casentino, Valtiberina and Valdichiana Aretina. The routes wind along in the saint's footsteps, reaching the Casentino forests: here, among silent woods filled with spirituality where Francis used to pray, stands the Sanctuary of La Verna, the site of the apparition of the stigmata. Along all the routes, reaching from time to time Anghiari, Arezzo, Cortona, the way encounters evidence of the saint's passage: they are found in art and in the great churches, as well as in the numerous hermitages; among these latter, the hermitage of Le Celle, founded by Francis himself, stands out.

Along each of these ancient roads you are plunged into history and a past that goes back many centuries. This is also the case for the Romea Strata, trodden by the steps of thousands of merchants and pilgrims from Eastern Europe; born on the route of the Nonantolana-Longobarda route, this road runs through the Pistoia area and the lands of Leonardo da Vinci, later intersecting with part of the Via Francigena. Its origins could be traced back to the Lombard kings, in order to connect Italy with the northern territories.

The Via Romea Sanese, which winds in 5 stages through the vineyards of Chianti, was in the Middle Ages the main route between Florence and Siena. Among the great personalities who walked this ancient route is Niccolò Machiavelli; along the route, arriving at Sant'Andrea in Percussina, you encounter the Albergaccio, that is the country home where the politician and man of letters retired during his exile from Florence, and where he wrote his most famous works, The Prince and The Mandrake.

Even more ancient are the historical origins of the Via Lauretana, which are almost lost in the mists of time: the stages of its route have seen men pass through it since the Etruscan people, of which many traces still remain today. In Cortona, the destination of the walk, it is possible to visit the archeological area and the MAEC - Museum of the Etruscan Academy and of the City of Cortona, where you can immserse yourself completely in a past that is now remote, but that still exudes great charm.

From Florence to Livorno, the itinerary dedicated to San Jacopo (Saint James) retraces the footsteps of pilgrims who traveled to Livorno to set sail from the local port, land in Barcelona and walk to Santiago de Compostela. The Cammino di San Jacopo—the Way of Saint James—includes stops in the major art cities of northern Tuscany, channeling into Pistoia, called the “Italian Compostela,” due to having safeguarded the famous relic of the Apostle James (Jacopo) in the Cathedral of San Zeno since 1145 A.D.

Just under 100 miles (160 kilometers) of ancient trails link Pontremoli in Lunigiana to Lucca, passing through landscapes of rare beauty and historic villages in the Garfagnana historical region. The Via del Volto Santo winds along a route rich in spirituality and culture, leading to the Cathedral of San Martino in Lucca, where the Volto Santo—a wooden crucifix venerated since the Middle Ages as a symbol of faith and mystery—is found.

The path crosses valleys and mountains, amid centuries-old forests and streams that accompany pilgrims’ steps. Along the way, you encounter Romanesque parish churches, ancient mule tracks and fortified villages such as Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and Barga, where time seems to stand still.

Four stages and two loops offer up evocative itineraries to discover Montalbano and Valdarno Inferiore, following the traces left by the Medici dynasty. This route combines history, art and nature, leading us through hilly landscapes dotted with ancient Medici villas, vast wooded areas and historic villages such as Vinci, Cerreto Guidi, Poggio a Caiano, Carmignano and Artimino.

From Prato to Fucecchio, among vineyards, olive groves and woods, the Via Medicea offers a unique glimpse of Renaissance Tuscany, touching on emblematic places as the Villa di Artimino and the Barco Reale, an ancient hunting preserve called for by the Medici.

In addition to the historical and artistic heritage, the route offers moments of connection with nature and the chance to discover the area’s food and wine excellences, including Carmignano DOCG wine, amaretti cookies and Mortadella IGP di Prato cured pork.