These Young People Rediscovered the Longest Trekking Route in Italy (and the World)

Love, they say, can withstand anything. Even three years of walking, 7000 km through the Alps and Apennines, a global pandemic, and even blisters. This is assured by Sara Furlanetto, co-founder with her partner Yuri and friend Giacomo of the project Va' Sentiero, which since 2019 has aimed to rediscover the Sentiero Italia, the longest trekking route in the world that runs from north to south across the entire Italian boot. Designed in 1983, the Sentiero Italia follows the mountainous ridges of the whole country through 20 regions and over 360 villages, with a cumulative ascent of 350,000 meters; however, it had been forgotten and had not been among the great trails that attract more and more individuals each year who believe that the slow pace holds the answer to a frantic world. Va' Sentiero was born from this idea, to reignite the lights on the artery connecting every corner of Italy in a new way that allows one to become aware of their surroundings by taking care of them, meeting, knowing, and sharing stories.

, says Sara. >. Va' Sentiero was born as a voluntary initiative in 2016, transformed into an association the following year, and became a fully-fledged organization in 2019, thanks to a crowdfunding campaign that helped the team secure the necessary funds to start. The same occurred in the following two years, including for this last segment, which will see its conclusion with the scheduled arrival on September 25 in Messina. Today, the group has significantly expanded: the team includes six young hikers under the age of 35: in addition to Sara, Yuri, and Giacomo, Andrea, a videomaker, Francesco, a philosopher, pantry manager, and cultural research coordinator; Martina, specialized in Economics and social media manager; Diego, graphic designer for Va' Sentiero; and Giovanni, born in 1950, a retired truck driver and hiking enthusiast, who drives the van. In addition to the hikers, there are Alberto in Amsterdam and Giulia in Turin who provide remote support. Furthermore, the photobook created with images by Sara titled Voices from the High Lands is in its second printing, and today Va' Sentiero has established a partnership with AIGAE - Italian Association of Environmental Hiking Guides and is supported by various outdoor brands and institutions.

But the story begins further back. Originally from Castelfranco Veneto, in the heart of the plains, Sara grew up with two parents passionate about the mountains. >. >, she recounts. >. Yet, in this love-at-first-sight moment, there were difficulties. >. The London University approved her application, and Sara moved to the English capital to stay for three and a half years; yet the story with Yuri did not end. >. After realizing that embarking on this journey to discover the Sentiero Italia would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Yuri decided to talk about it with Sara. >.

The moment of "go" was in 2019 in Trieste, and since then, an incredible adventure began that led the team to discover the Alpine arc and the northern regions. >. Primarily, their way of being together, Sara and Yuri's, was new. >. Yet, they have walked many kilometers and faced a lot of time, including stops due to COVID. Along the route, they have met people, seen landscapes, engaged with local communities, tried various ways of moving, from cycling to stand-up paddleboarding, testing the different possibilities that being in contact with nature can offer. The stretch they are currently covering began in Sicily in April, is crossing Sardinia, and will continue, by the end of summer, along the last three regions needed to complete the Sentiero Italia: Campania, Basilicata, and Calabria. This journey will now also become a docuseries that will be told for the first time on TV by "Va' Sentiero - Walking Italy", an original production by laF, created by Ascent Film, airing from Monday, July 19 at 9:10 PM on laF (Sky 135) and available on demand on Sky and Sky Go and streaming on NOW. The first four episodes will air from July 19 to August 4 and will feature the territories of northern Italy. Each episode will follow the path and evolution of one of the young hikers, bringing to light the dynamics of a group that came together a bit by chance and found itself sharing a unique and unpredictable collective experience. Starting mid-September, the remaining four episodes, with the first featuring Sara, will air. When we speak with Sara, it's the end of June and the group is in the middle of Sardinia. >.

The idea of bringing back the "CAI Italy Trail" comes from the Italian Alpine Club, which has been taking care of it since the 1990s and has in recent years made the world's longest trail passable again, thanks to the support of over 6000 volunteer members of CAI. The volunteers have dedicated and continue to dedicate their time to maintain, clean, redefine, and remark the paths of the CAI Italy Trail across various regions. In action to update maps and paths, to improve accommodation facilities, and to monitor the environmental state, there are, among others, the expertise of the operational structure for Trails and Cartography, the Central Commission for Hiking, Shelters, and Environmental Protection. The CAI Italy Trail project is more active than ever and is not just about walking, but a philosophy that promotes communities, tradition, and the economy of the medium mountains with an outlook towards ethical, sustainable, and conscious tourism.