Via degli Dei and Mugello
All Europe is dotted with ancient streets that can still be walked on and which lately are attracting more and more tourists. Suffice it to say that over the years the Camino de Santiago de Compostela has become so well known that various films have even been made there.
In Italy there is a less traveled and beautiful path that we recommend you take before it is discovered by too many people: Via degli Dei that connects Florence with Bologna passing through Mugello!
A way of Etruscans and Romans
Etruscan people already in the seventh century. B.C. along the road that connected Fiesole with Felsina (today’s Bologna) through Mugello and Apennines in order to carry out their trade.
Romans subsequently founded the colony of Bononia on the remains of ancient Felsina and Florence in the valley below Fiesole and expanded the Etruscan road to have a connection with Rome also passing through Arezzo: Flaminia Militare road.
Even in the Middle Ages, the habit of following this road was not lost, even if it was reduced to a mule track rather than a road.
Via degli Dei
About forty years ago, at the end of the 1980s, a group of mountain lovers began to rediscover the old paths that cross Apennines passing through Monte Adone, Mozumo, Venere, Lunario.
These names recall the various Gods: Iovis, Venus, Lua and hence the name Via degli Dei [Gods Way].
This route is designed to be covered on foot, by mountain bike, with the dog, entirely or in stages. It is a path that leaves full freedom to those who want to enter a breathtaking and unforgettable landscape!
Mugello stages
If we divide the route into five stages, the last one is the more proper Mugello one: from San Piero a Sieve to Florence. It is a path that can be done on foot or by bike.
– By foot the length is 33.20 km for a difference in height of +1367 m and an estimated time of 11.20h.
– By mountain bike the length of the route is 31.30 Km for a difference in height of + 1177m and an estimated time of 3 hours.
Two unmissable attractions of this stage
Mugello is rich in traditions and selecting only some of the beauties of this stage is not easy but we would like to point out two unmissable ones:
1) Medici Fortress of San Martino. On such an important route of connection and trade, a fortress plays a defensive role. In fact, the population of Mugello asked Cosimo I de Medici for a place to be able to be protected. Today the fortress is being restored but it absolutely does not lose its charm.
2) Bosco ai Frati Convent. This small convent presents an unexpected treasure: in Medici Room, set up inside the small museum, you will find, among the various works, a rare and splendid wooden crucifix by Donatello!
The stages and attractions are many and we recommend that you refresh yourself after this beautiful walk by stopping in traditional taverns and trattorias along the way!
Planning your route is important
The planning of your stages, whether it is one or more, is essential, especially for the refreshment and rest points!
At Villa Campestri we are waiting for you to welcome and refresh you during your unforgettable experiences on the paths traveled by Etruscans and Romans!
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