Italy is a country crisscrossed by walking routes — from historic trails like the ancient Appian Way and the Via Francigena, first mapped out during Lombard times, to more recent ones like the Way of St. Francis or the Oropa Trail, created by experienced hikers in search of new paths to explore on foot.

Some of these trails were initiated by individual citizens, such as the Cammino dei Borghi Silenti in Umbria — a five-day loop through quiet villages — while others, like the Sentiero d’Italia, have been restored and promoted after years of neglect.