{"id":737,"date":"2025-06-15T14:36:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-15T06:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/the-best-hikes-in-italy-explore-alpine-highs-and-amalfi-skies\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:04","slug":"the-best-hikes-in-italy-explore-alpine-highs-and-amalfi-skies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=737","title":{"rendered":"The best hikes in Italy explore Alpine highs and Amalfi skies"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"content-block lg:w-full\" data-astro-cid-d3bt3f4h=\"\">\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Italy&#8217;s beaches and art-rammed cities often steal the limelight, but it isn\u2019t until you strike out into the wild mountains and trek along vertiginous coastlines that you can even come close to understanding how ravishing this country really is.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">From the cliff-hanging trails of Amalfi to the colossal granite spires of the Dolomites, volcano climbs in Sicily to hikes deep into the heart of the flower-freckled Apennines, Italy is a boot made for walking.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Here are eight of the best hikes in Italy, with top tips on how to tackle them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"relative w-full my-12 aspect-video\"><iframe class=\"absolute left-0 top-0 w-full h-full aspect-[16\/9]\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zGlpMEUZv3U\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"article-h2 mb-6 mt-16 text-black\">What you need to know about hiking in Italy<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">The best seasons for hiking in Italy are spring and early fall \u2013 avoiding the scorching heat of mid-summer \u2013 though the window is shorter in the Alps and Dolomites (late June through September).<\/p>\n<p><astro-ad data-container-id=\"gpt-ad-504889797982\" data-path=\"\/9885583\/LonelyPlanet.com\/articles\/in-content-top\" data-slot-size=\"[[970,250],[970,90],[728,90],[300,250],[320,50],[1,1]]\" data-targeting='{\"url\":\"best-hikes-italy\",\"destination\":\"Italy\",\"continent\":\"Europe\",\"country\":\"Italy\"}' data-size-mapping='[{\"viewport\":[0,0],\"slot\":[]},{\"viewport\":[300,0],\"slot\":[[300,250],[320,50],[1,1]]},{\"viewport\":[768,0],\"slot\":[[728,90],[300,250],[1,1]]},{\"viewport\":[960,0],\"slot\":[[970,250],[970,90],[728,90],[300,250],[1,1]]}]' data-debug=\"false\" class=\"block gpt-ad my-24 lg:w-[calc(100%+5rem)] lg:-ml-10\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"p-3 text-xs leading-none tracking-wide text-center uppercase text-black-400\">\nAdvertisement\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"gpt-ad-504889797982\" style=\"min-height:min-content\">   <\/div>\n<p>  <\/astro-ad><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Most Italians go on vacation in August, so trails are at their most crowded, and <em>rifugi<\/em> (mountain huts) in Italy&#8217;s best national parks are usually packed, so you\u2019ll need to book your bed well in advance. Wild camping is a gray area \u2013 it&#8217;s prohibited in theory but sometimes tolerated in practice, providing you avoid tourist hotspots, beaches and protected areas like nature reserves. If you do, go remote, arrive at dusk and leave by dawn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Most local and regional tourist office websites can give you the inside scoop on walking in their area. The Italian Parks organization lists walking trails through each of the country\u2019s 25 national parks. Tabacco produces a decent range of topographic 1:25,000 hiking maps and apps.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"my-24 lg:w-[calc(100%+5rem)] lg:-ml-10\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1864636741-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop\" alt=\"Hiker relaxes in the mountainous landscape of the Italian Alps along the Sella Herbetet Traverse\" width=\"6000\" height=\"4709\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"max-w-full object-contain w-full bg-black-100 \" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1200px) 1200px, (min-width: 1024px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 640px) 640px, (min-width: 320px) 320px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1864636741-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=320 320w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1864636741-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=640 640w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1864636741-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=768 768w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1864636741-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1864636741-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1200 1200w\"><figcaption class=\"mt-2 text-right text-xs\">Reach heights of up to 4061m (13,323ft) on Italy&#8217;s Sella-Herbetet Traverse \u00a9 ueuaphoto \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"article-h2 mb-6 mt-16 text-black\">Sella-Herbetet Traverse, Gran Paradiso, Piedmont<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>Best hike in the Italian Alps<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>20.5km (13 miles) round trip, 10 hours, challenging<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">If you\u2019re craving an Alpine challenge, the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso in the Graian Alps is a feast. Snug against the French border in Italy&#8217;s northwest, this mind-blowing wilderness has piercing blue lakes, deep forests, rushing rivers and some of the country&#8217;s highest, gnarliest mountains, topping out at its eponymous 4061m (13,323ft) peak.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Starting in Valnontey, this classic one-day loop trail takes you right to its heart. From the town bridge in Valnontey, the Alta Via 2 leads along an old mule trail up to 2588m (8490ft) Rifugio Sella, a former hunting lodge of King Vittorio Emanuele II. Between here and Casolari dell&#8217;Herbetet (a park ranger&#8217;s base to the south), things get more exposed, with a traverse where you can cling on to a length of chain for protection.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">The day&#8217;s ascent is 1180m (3871ft) and \u2013 oh joy! \u2013 the trip is virtually downhill all the way back to the village from the <em>casolari<\/em>.  The views across the valley will make you gasp: spiky peaks, small glaciers glinting on the eastern skyline and the mighty Ghiacciaio Tribolazioni below Gran Paradiso itself. Herds of ibex and chamois graze peacefully on steep patches of grass, and you should also be able to hear and see marmots.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Tackle this one on a clear day; you\u2019ll need to be surefooted and have a head for heights.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"my-24 lg:w-[calc(100%+5rem)] lg:-ml-10\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1796623297-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop\" alt=\"Two hikers stand and admire the jagged peaks of Cadini di Misurina mountains in Dolomites, Italy\" width=\"5184\" height=\"3888\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"max-w-full object-contain w-full bg-black-100 \" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1200px) 1200px, (min-width: 1024px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 640px) 640px, (min-width: 320px) 320px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1796623297-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=320 320w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1796623297-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=640 640w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1796623297-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=768 768w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1796623297-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1796623297-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1200 1200w\"><figcaption class=\"mt-2 text-right text-xs\">Tre Cime de Lavaredo are three colossal rocky peaks in Italy&#8217;s Dolomites \u00a9 SPavlo Glazkov \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"article-h2 mb-6 mt-16 text-black\">Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Dolomites<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>Best hike in the Dolomites<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>9.5km (6 miles) round trip, 4 hours, moderate<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>Madre Natura<\/em> sure was generous with Italy in the looks department, but she went the extra mile in the Dolomites, puckering up in the country\u2019s northeast. The cloud-scraping limestone spires, buttresses and towers that punch high above meadows, lakes and spruce forests here offer some of Europe&#8217;s most compelling walking country. If you&#8217;re going to do just one day hike here, make it the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit in the Parco Naturale Tre Cime.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Kicking off at Rifugio Auronzo, the trail weaves to Rifugio Lavaredo and then clambers up to 2454m (8051ft) Forcella di Lavaredo with pop-up views of the Tre Cime \u2013 a trilogy of photogenic peaks shaped like bishops&#8217; miters \u2013 slowly cracking open, before heading on to Rifugio Locatelli and back to Rifugio Auronzo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Get an early start to appreciate the trail at its silent best (it can get busy as the day goes on, especially during the summer) and avoid afternoon thunderstorms. Access the route via the toll road from Misurina (\u20ac30).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"my-24 lg:w-[calc(100%+5rem)] lg:-ml-10\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1008028645-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop\" alt=\"A group of friends standing on the edge of a cliff and taking photos of the coastline below on the Path of the Gods in Campania, Italy\" width=\"5503\" height=\"3669\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"max-w-full object-contain w-full bg-black-100 \" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1200px) 1200px, (min-width: 1024px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 640px) 640px, (min-width: 320px) 320px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1008028645-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=320 320w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1008028645-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=640 640w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1008028645-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=768 768w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1008028645-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1008028645-RFC.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1200 1200w\"><figcaption class=\"mt-2 text-right text-xs\">Try trekking the route from Agerola to Nocelle on the Amalfi coast, called the Path of the Gods \u00a9 Francesca Sciarra \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"article-h2 mb-6 mt-16 text-black\">Sentiero degli Dei, Amalfi Coast<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>Best hike for a sun-kissed stroll<\/em><\/p>\n<p><astro-ad data-container-id=\"gpt-ad-745743059344\" data-path=\"\/9885583\/LonelyPlanet.com\/articles\/in-content-middle\" data-slot-size=\"[[970,250],[970,90],[728,90],[300,250],[320,50],[1,1]]\" data-targeting='{\"url\":\"best-hikes-italy\",\"destination\":\"Italy\",\"continent\":\"Europe\",\"country\":\"Italy\"}' data-size-mapping='[{\"viewport\":[0,0],\"slot\":[]},{\"viewport\":[300,0],\"slot\":[[300,250],[320,50],[1,1]]},{\"viewport\":[768,0],\"slot\":[[728,90],[300,250],[1,1]]},{\"viewport\":[960,0],\"slot\":[[970,250],[970,90],[728,90],[300,250],[1,1]]}]' data-debug=\"false\" class=\"block gpt-ad my-24 lg:w-[calc(100%+5rem)] lg:-ml-10\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"p-3 text-xs leading-none tracking-wide text-center uppercase text-black-400\">\nAdvertisement\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"gpt-ad-745743059344\" style=\"min-height:min-content\">   <\/div>\n<p>  <\/astro-ad><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>8km (5 miles) one way, 4.5 hours, easy to moderate<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">True to its name, the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) presents a heavenly canvas of southern Italian landscapes, with sensational views of the rugged, densely wooded Lattari mountains that dive down to the glittering Mediterranean and candy-colored villages tumbling haphazardly down hillsides and distant glimpses of Capri. You can nail it in half a day, but with scenery like this, why on earth rush? Pack a picnic and grab a map of the walk from local tourist offices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Following an elevated, often rocky mule trail linking postcard-perfect Positano to the ancient fishing village of Praiano, the path unzips some of the area&#8217;s least-developed countryside with minimal effort and is immediately spectacular. You&#8217;ll traipse past terraced hillsides, lemon orchards and fragrant macchia (scrub) of rosemary and holm oak. A flight of 1500 steps trips gleefully down to Arienzo, where you can pause for a cooling dip, seafood lunch and cocktail at the beach club. The sunsets here are something else.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-h2 mb-6 mt-16 text-black\">Corno Grande, Abruzzo<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>Best hike for climbing a mountain<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>9km (5.6 miles) round trip, 7 hours, moderate to challenging<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Presiding over the jagged rockscapes of the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga (one of Italy&#8217;s largest national parks), 2192m (7191ft) Corno Grande (&#8220;Big Horn&#8221;) is the highest peak in the Apennines. Its distinctive craggy profile etches the horizon and is visible all over Abruzzo, right in the heart of Italy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">From the main parking lot at Campo Imperatore, hook onto the <em>via normale<\/em> (normal route). It&#8217;s a surprisingly straightforward climb along moraine-streaked slopes to the summit, with 782m (2565ft) of ascent and some easy scrambling on the final leg. At the top, you\u2019ll be gripped by views of rippling mountains and the Adriatic, a distant glimmer on the horizon, as well as tantalizing glimpses of Europe&#8217;s southernmost glacier, the Calderone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">If you\u2019re an experienced hiker up for more of a challenge, choose the alternative ascent that zigzags directly to the summit, a much tougher climb. In the quiet of the early morning or late afternoon, you might spot a nimble-footed chamois or a royal eagle wheeling overhead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">The best window for this hike is from early June to late September when the mountain is free of snow.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"my-24 lg:w-[calc(100%+5rem)] lg:-ml-10\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Cinque%20Terre-Italy-MStudioImages-GettyImages-1170711729-rfc.jpg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop\" alt=\"Woman walking on a path toward Corniglia, a beautiful town in Cinque Terre coast in Italy\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"max-w-full object-contain w-full bg-black-100 \" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1200px) 1200px, (min-width: 1024px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 640px) 640px, (min-width: 320px) 320px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Cinque%20Terre-Italy-MStudioImages-GettyImages-1170711729-rfc.jpg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=320 320w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Cinque%20Terre-Italy-MStudioImages-GettyImages-1170711729-rfc.jpg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=640 640w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Cinque%20Terre-Italy-MStudioImages-GettyImages-1170711729-rfc.jpg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=768 768w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Cinque%20Terre-Italy-MStudioImages-GettyImages-1170711729-rfc.jpg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Cinque%20Terre-Italy-MStudioImages-GettyImages-1170711729-rfc.jpg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1200 1200w\"><figcaption class=\"mt-2 text-right text-xs\">See some of the best views of the pastel towns decorating the cliffs of Cinque Terre from the Sentiero Azzurro \u00a9 MStudioImages \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"article-h2 mb-6 mt-16 text-black\">Sentiero Azzurro, Cinque Terre<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>Best hike for hugging the coast<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>8.5km (5.2 miles) one way, 4 hours, easy to moderate<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Yes, Cinque Terre really is as jaw-dropping as the photos you\u2019ve seen. The five precariously perched fishing villages painted in ice-cream colors look as though they\u2019ll topple off the cliffside with the merest puff of wind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">The Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail, marked No. 2 on maps) used to string them all together, teetering past vines, olive groves, forests and terraced hillsides, hugging the contour of the coastline cliffs along the sapphire Ligurian Sea. However, because of landslides, some sections of the route are currently inaccessible and are being pieced back together. For the latest updates, visit the website, which details the sections that are open.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">The route is best walked east to west, from Riomaggiore to Monterosso. However, the first section of the trail, Riomaggiore-Manarola, is likely to be closed until 2024, so you&#8217;ll need to start your hike at vine-wreathed Manarola, where houses cling to the sheer clifftops in a fresco painter\u2019s palette of colors. You need to purchase a Cinque Terre Card (\u20ac7.50 for one day), which gives you access to the national park and use of its facilities.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-h2 mb-6 mt-16 text-black\">Selvaggio Blu, Sardinia<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>Best hike for a hardcore multi-day trek<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>45km (28 miles) one way, 4\u20137 days, challenging<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">If other hikes aren\u2019t quite hitting the off-the-radar sweet spot, oh, intrepid one, this epic jaunt along Sardinia\u2019s ragged east coast never fails. Often hailed as Italy&#8217;s toughest trek (and you\u2019d better believe it), the Selvaggio Blu, or &#8220;Wild Blue,&#8221; throws you in at the adventure deep end.<\/p>\n<p><astro-ad data-container-id=\"gpt-ad-291380817649\" data-path=\"\/9885583\/LonelyPlanet.com\/articles\/in-content-native\" data-slot-size='[\"fluid\"]' data-targeting='{\"url\":\"best-hikes-italy\",\"destination\":\"Italy\",\"continent\":\"Europe\",\"country\":\"Italy\"}' data-debug=\"false\" class=\"block gpt-ad my-24 lg:w-[calc(100%+5rem)] lg:-ml-10 shadow p-6\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"gpt-ad-291380817649\" style=\"min-height:min-content\">   <\/div>\n<p>  <\/astro-ad><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Threading its way along the Golfo di Orosei on Sardinia&#8217;s east coast, this hike is a never-to-be-forgotten, away-from-the-world adventure that requires mountaineering experience. Signs and water are desperately lacking, trail finding is tricky (even with GPS), and the going can be grueling, with abseils of up to 45m (148ft) and UIAA grade IV+ climbs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">But it&#8217;s worth it. Heading south to north from Pedra Longa to Cala Fuili, the multi-day hike wriggles along one of Italy&#8217;s wildest and most isolated coastlines, with deep gorges, impenetrable vegetation, cliffs dipping up to 800m (2625ft) and unrivaled views of the Mediterranean. Old shepherds&#8217; and charcoal burners&#8217; paths weave past silent coves and dramatic overhangs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">By night, you\u2019ll camp under the starriest of night skies at remote beaches and in caves. Unless you are familiar with these parts, you will need a guide, such as mountaineering and climbing pro Corrado Conca.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"my-24 lg:w-[calc(100%+5rem)] lg:-ml-10\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1486999109-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop\" alt=\"Hikers walking on gray ash at sunset on Stromboli volcano on Sicily, Italy\" width=\"5184\" height=\"3888\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"max-w-full object-contain w-full bg-black-100 \" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1200px) 1200px, (min-width: 1024px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 640px) 640px, (min-width: 320px) 320px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1486999109-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=320 320w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1486999109-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=640 640w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1486999109-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=768 768w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1486999109-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1486999109-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1200 1200w\"><figcaption class=\"mt-2 text-right text-xs\">The climb to Stromboli volcano&#8217;s crater is a favorite among hikers in Sicily \u00a9 Marco Crupi \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"article-h2 mb-6 mt-16 text-black\">Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, Sicily<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>Best hike for a volcano ascent <\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>7.8km (4.8 miles) round trip, 6 hours, moderate to challenging<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">There\u2019s no better way to get a handle on the smoldering beauty of Sicily\u2019s Aeolian Islands than by hoofing it up to Stromboli&#8217;s perfect pyramid of a volcano. Thrusting above the cobalt sea, it certainly has the wow factor. It&#8217;s not every day, after all, that you get to trek up to a permanently active cone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">The most captivating of the Aeolian Islands, Stromboli is a whippersnapper in volcanic terms, formed only a mere 40,000 years ago. For nature lovers, the climb to its crater is one of Sicily&#8217;s not-to-be-missed experiences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">The hike is as diverse as it is exhilarating, with wild capers and Sicilian broom lining the trail. It gives adventurers incredible panoramas over Stromboli town, as well as starker, high-level elevation landscapes that contrast with dramatic sea views.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Go at sunset to witness the crater&#8217;s fireworks at the 924m (3032ft) summit as day fades to night and then hike back down to town by flashlight in the darkness. Authorities strictly regulate access \u2013 you can walk freely to 400m (1312ft), but you&#8217;ll need a guide (such as the knowledgeable guides at Magmatrek) to continue any higher.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">Remember that this is an active volcano \u2013 with a major eruption as recently as July 2019 \u2013 meaning this climb, though beautiful, comes with additional risk.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"my-24 lg:w-[calc(100%+5rem)] lg:-ml-10\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1942737502-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop\" alt=\"A woman walks along a path next to the archaeological ruins on the Via Appia Antica in Rome, Italy\" width=\"5900\" height=\"3967\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"max-w-full object-contain w-full bg-black-100 \" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1200px) 1200px, (min-width: 1024px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 640px) 640px, (min-width: 320px) 320px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1942737502-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=320 320w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1942737502-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=640 640w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1942737502-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=768 768w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1942737502-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1024 1024w, https:\/\/lp-cms-production.imgix.net\/2022-09\/Italy-shutterstock_1942737502-RFE.jpeg?auto=format,compress&#038;q=72&#038;fit=crop&#038;w=1200 1200w\"><figcaption class=\"mt-2 text-right text-xs\">Walkers on Via Appia Antica will find ancient Roman ruins alongside the Roman Empire&#8217;s first highway \u00a9 ValerioMei \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"article-h2 mb-6 mt-16 text-black\">Via Appia Antica, Rome-Brindisi<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>Best hike for history<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\"><em>12.9km (8 miles) one way, 3 hours, easy to moderate<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">All roads lead to Rome on the Via Appia Antica (the Appian Way). The first mighty highway of the Roman Empire, it was built between 312 BCE and 190 BCE to link Rome to the port of Brindisi on the southern Adriatic coast, 483km (300 miles) distant. The arrow-straight path takes its name from the man who laid the first stone: Appius Claudius Caecus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">While much of it is off limits and overgrown these days, this stretch gives you a tantalizing peek of what travel would have been like more than 2000 years ago, as you tread cobblestones polished smooth by millennia of cart wheels, horse hooves and hobnailed Roman <em>caligae<\/em> (heavy-soled military sandals) and leave the frenetic buzz of Rome behind to slip into peaceful, cypress tree-dotted countryside.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">It\u2019s wrong to assume that all of Rome\u2019s cultural big hitters are all in the center. Strike out along this path, and you\u2019ll be amazed by the monuments and milestones that confront you at every turn, fully immersing you in the city\u2019s enthralling past: the romantic ruins of villas where Rome&#8217;s elite lived, catacombs, above-ground tombs and mausoleums.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-md my-6 text-black-400\">This walk begins at the 5th-century Porta San Sebastiano, the largest of the gates in the Aurelian Walls, and ends at 2nd-century Villa dei Quintili, towering over green fields. En route, factor in stops at tiny Chiesa del Domine Quo Vadis, where St Peter encountered a vision of Jesus; the Catacombe di San Callisto, where 16 popes, dozens of martyrs and thousands upon thousands of Christians lie entombed; and Villa di Massenzio, the 4th-century palace of the emperor Maxentius, where you\u2019ll find Rome\u2019s best-preserved chariot racetrack, the Circo di Massenzio.<\/p>\n<link rel=\"preload\" as=\"fetch\" href=\"\/_server-islands\/RelatedBooksLayout?e=RelatedBooksLayout&#038;p=4D09D626E3D3A68FA85FC873K24DdtXXPPW2b7WFljyeMWHEpT%2FAQuTb%2FwXITFXQV3qBaPJ2HL6WdO3fmgav2pfiJlXbkzN8LjjP3z3AXa3jaRerRFnOWvKbBOEuKCPvIDt8EQy9s8Oq76E1ErhlCbWvxFoK0BPYEyobRSQq8rUgzQcHZXLKt8GFUNPDtD0AvcMMPA4R7oG0B%2FX6xJiHFijGB6SE%2F2UJWuHVptwO173yzZw8UZj5fKHtq7iZZo36Mr%2BVzwKYHdMpnohrgSTZYGzfDM9s9LP%2BTh1IZOuk3xWCzDgIy5um8J7ymA5aRuDuV2FYGuQspC623calr2mF34bNkaB7DBhiEg6jqfFsAEa%2BHMZfYvZqVF202QuRym410iqFBYaCLaZlYeuPeN8kuXUhE%2FzPIJOBPgE2Buw%2FjZOjh9BJPfa%2FJ3L1M%2FA4N5%2Be2lV%2FPhBrylIzffb9tf6QIN3fFxQUFPBNjFCaIf%2FUljOheYreWmvFkWEdmPYpv0UEz6Cn4JaJhXA4IH4vVXECUdaktHD0oOZSqQ%3D%3D&#038;s=%7B%7D\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Italy&#8217;s beaches and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":738,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-italy-travel-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=737"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1031,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions\/1031"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/738"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}