Walking Italy (A Guide for Tourists and Armchair Travellers) By Rachael Martin

  

Walking  Italy

(A Guide for Tourists and Armchair Travellers)

By Rachael Martin

 

SUMMARY:

Whether it’s setting off on a long walk or going walking for the day, it doesn’t get much better than doing it in Italy. Italy has it all: mountains, hilltop towns, medieval squares, olive groves, vineyards, Renaissance art, and routes which speak the stories of people and places. This is a book about walking that’s not necessarily for walkers. It’s for those who love walking and go regularly, but it’s also aimed at beginners, those of us who enjoy a walk followed by lunch or dinner in a medieval square and a night at a cosy B&B. Maybe you’ll never actually go on any of the walks. This is also the book for you. It’s full of the history and stories of routes and places, so you can go on your own journey from the comfort of your living room. It gives you all the relevant links you’ll need, such as up-to-date maps, detailed routes, GPS navigation, updates, further reading, and advice on the walking itself. Start reading, start dreaming and maybe you too could be walking through Italy soon.

MY REVIEW:

I think the blurb on Amazon is brilliant – ‘this is a book about walking that’s not necessarily about walking.’ Rachael tells us that her love of walking started in the Yorkshire Dales as a girl and then, going camping with an Italian boyfriend. Twenty-five years later, her passion for hiking in the mountains has never waned.

The book is in six sections, each detailing a route, introducing the area covered and an explanation of the history, geography, social and religious aspects. Not only that, but she also delves into local food from cheeses to traditional delicacies. In the middle of each section, you will find recommended restaurants along the route and places to stay. At the end are links to maps, useful information, advice on when to go and a ‘while You’re Here’ paragraph on places of interest. All sprinkled with gorgeous photographs. From the Aosta Valley to Milan and Lake Como to Umbria, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Rome and beyond.

Essentially, it’s about walking!  Yes, walking is good for you. It's a simple, accessible, and effective form of exercise with numerous health benefits. We all know that, but there is much more to this book.

People walk the Camino de Santiago for a variety of reasons, including religious/spiritual purposes, personal growth, physical challenge, and cultural/historical interest. Rachael extols the virtue of The Great Italian Trail, which goes across the whole of Italy and is eight times the length of the Camino Santiago.  Not only does this book celebrate the joy of walking, sharing the extraordinary health and spiritual benefits that the landscape unlocks, but she also points out what you can eat and drink along the way!

‘Whether you’re here as a pilgrim or a walker, this is the ideal route for mixing the spiritual with the worldly and soaking up those views as you go. The walk passes through three of the municipalities where the Chianti Classico wine is produced, so basically the walk takes you through Chianti heartland. I mean, really, what more could you ask for?’

Even if you are a non-walker like me, this book offers something for you. If you want to know something about the landscape and history and culture of Italy, then Rachael is the supreme tour guide. She offers a treasure trove of perfect spots that cater to your emotional needs.

Her advice... ‘Slow it all down!’ She tells you to sit in a café in the piazza of Arezzo, order a cappuccino and watch the Tuscan world go by. If you go on the first weekend of the month, there is an antiques fair to enjoy. I really can’t argue with that!

There is little that Rachael doesn’t offer in this book. It's great for foodies! Italian cuisine is known worldwide for its diversity and deliciousness, with each region boasting unique specialities.  If you are in Umbria, she tells you to go and eat at the Locanda Il Sassone and try the tortello all lastra, a local dish, a kind of sealed piadina filled with potatoes in tomato sauce. Her impeccable research also informs you about something you probably had no idea about –

‘The diet in the Middle Ages was plain, with cereals such as farro (spelt) and orzo (barley), vegetables, bread and legumes. If you want to get nearer to a medieval experience, try the Tuscan soups like ribollita. It's made of stale bread and cabbage, boiled twice, hence the name and it is delicious.’

If it’s a vibrant city you are looking for, filled with life and energy to chase away those feelings of boredom, then spend the day in Bologna and take in the sights.  Visit the Museo del Tessuto, the textile museum which explores the history of textiles and weaving in the city.

For something completely different, take a leisurely boat trip along the canal in Comacchio in the region of Emilia-Romagna, known as ‘Little Venice.’ It is still a lagoon centre and has famous monuments, such as the Trepponti bridge, with its majestic staircases, the seventeenth-century Cathedral of San Cassiano, the elegant Bellini Palace and the distinctive Manifattura dei Marinati, the ancient factory where eels were cooked and marinated.

 

Why I recommend this book:

I urge you to buy this book and put on your walking shoes!!

You only have to open the book and read the glowing reviews to know that this is worth a read and you can take your pick of superlatives – ‘thoughtfully written,’ ‘a wonderful and careful work,’ ‘put together with love and passion for walking and Italy.’

Rachael’s expertise shines through on every page because she is an author who is passionate about both writing and travel.  

This is your ultimate guidebook, self-guide, pocket travel guide, field guide and picture guide crafted to inspire your journey.  Rachael Martin is YOUR personal travel guide. With her deep knowledge of renowned attractions and hidden gems like the Sagra del Prosciutto ( ham festival) held in Saint-Oyen every August in the Aosta Valley or the rock of Sasso Spicco in Umbria, where St Francis used to pray, she invites you to discover the diverse and scenic walking experiences in Italy. Her guidebook bursts with authenticity, honesty, and invaluable insights, reflecting her passion and love for such a beautiful country. Let Rachael lead you on a journey to boost your mood, improve your health and physical wellbeing, immerse yourself in the Italian culture and create unforgettable memories!

With warmth, wisdom, she skilfully blends her painstaking research into engaging stories to reveal the ideal walking destinations in many of Italy’s unique regions. Your journey ends in Rome (yes... all roads lead to Rome!) even though the Sentiero degli Dei (path of the Gods) continues along the Amalfi coast heading down to Basilica, and Calabria.  

Walks eastward to Molise, Puglia and Abruzzo and more stories are for another day! Can’t wait!

 

“A walk in nature walks the soul back home”

                                                    Mary Davis

AUTHOR BIO:

Originally from Yorkshire (UK), Rachael arrived in Italy over twenty-five years ago and fell in love with the country, its mountains and its walks. She loves nothing more than sharing her Italian world with others, whether it’s the joy and freedom of being up a mountain, the history of the castles along Lake Como or sitting in a café and watching the world. She loves to go beyond the stereotypes to really bring out Italy in all its complexity whilst mixing in the everyday. Rachael is a regular contributor to travel magazines and lives with her husband and boys just north of Milan near Lake Como. Rachael Martin is a freelance writer and author based in Milan. She writes about travel, food, the arts and culture in Italy. She does online talks about Italian fashion history and other Italy-related topics on request.

You can find her on Instagram and Facebook at @rachaelmartinwrites.

BOOK BLURB:

Pen and Sword Books Ltd (Jan 2025)

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR:

The Fashion Lovers Guide to Milan