Urban Trekking: what it is and where to go on holiday in Italy

Urban trekking was born from the union of "walking" or "hiking" and the wonders that each Italian town or village offers. Urban trekking is an expression born in Siena in 2003 and a proposal of slow tourism to live the Italian cities intensely. It is not suitable for those who choose "hit and run" tourism. The birth of this expression "urban trekking" is of our days. Still, we can affirm with a certain conviction that for millennia inhabitants, travellers, tourists and scholars have been wandering through our territories searching for famous and less famous beauties to discover. Urban trekking is also a form of "gentle" sport suitable for all ages, seasons, and even a safe holiday in this pandemic period. Urban trekking with its walks in the open air, especially in small villages, is undoubtedly a way to avoid the crowds and contagions of covid. Urban trekking is directly linked to sustainable tourism because it respects residents' quality of life and allows you to discover the area and all its small realities: craft workshops, viewpoints, small taverns, monuments to be admired in the open air. Urban trekking and giving us intense emotions in visiting the exceptional Italian beauties are also suitable for our health. Urban trekking itineraries involve walks of 20 minutes at a brisk pace. This type of activity burns calories and cures the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle, amplified by the lockdowns of the covid year. 

Every year since 2003, on the 31st October, the NATIONAL URBAN TREKKING DAY is celebrated. 68 cities took part in the initiative with the theme 'How green is my city. Each city presented some interesting itineraries available to tourists, residents and free travellers. Visititaly.eu has chosen 5 small villages included in these URBAN TREKKING guides to contribute to the knowledge of these itineraries and territories.  

Narni is a village in the province of Terni in Umbria and is considered a bridge between ancient and modern. Narni's origins date back to 300 B.C.: even if the historical centre is not very big, the urban trekking route, which is proposed, is exciting. It starts in Piazza dei Priori with the 'Giardino dei semplici' and then continues with the cloister of Sant'Agostino. One of the essential things to see in Narni is the Rocca Albornoz, a mighty ancient fortress that has also been the home of popes, cardinals and warriors.Narni is a small jewel in the heart of Italy. 

Palmanova is a well-known town in the province of Udine in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The fortress town of Palmanova, founded by Venice in 1593, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017 due to its nine-pointed star shape that represents a unique military architectural example in the history of the late Renaissance period. The urban trekking itinerary in Palmanova includes a walk through the historic Bastion Park. The city's layout respects the perfect geometry of the military structures that protected the town from possible enemy attacks. The itinerary continues with a visit to the Loggia Della Gran Guardia and the hexagonal Piazza Grande, the Fortress and Porta Cividale. After this route, you will return to the city through Porta Aquileia.

The village of San Marco Argentano is in the province of Cosenza in Calabria. The Normans have woven the history of this small town. The urban trekking itinerary includes a visit to the Norman Tower. The building is circular and consists of five rooms, connected by a spiral staircase. The itinerary includes the Church of Sant'Antonio, where it is possible to admire two works by Pietro Negroni, an artist probably born in San Marco Argentano in the 16th century. The Sikelgaita fountain also probably has Norman origins. In the itinerary, a walk through the narrow streets of the historic centre is a must, ending with a visit to the Church of Santa Maria dei Longobardi, the oldest religious site in the Norman village.

Urbania is located in the Marche region in the province of Pesaro-Urbino. Urbania's first name was Casteldurante: the village has a very ancient history intertwined with Urbino and the Montefeltro family. The Ducal Palace of Urbania dates back to the end of the 15th century and it dominates the Metauro river and the valley with its 6000 square metres designed by the architect Francesco Di Giorgio Martini in 1470. Urban trekking itineraries in Urbania include a visit to the Ducal Palace and the enchanting historic centre. In addition to its cultural and architectural heritage, Urbania is also famous for its ceramics: in the 16th century, Castedurante was famous for the most beautiful Renaissance majolica. 

Tempio Pausania is in Sardinia in the province of Sassari. It is the capital of cork processing: in fact, in this small village it is possible to visit the museum of cork machinery where it is possible to find a sarra a nastru (band saw), hot and ink stamping machines, dies for the extrusion of cylindrical corks and several artefacts for industrial and handicraft work. The village is located in the heart of Gallura and has a population of about 15000 inhabitants. It is called the 'city of stone' because of the granite of all the paving in the historic centre. This paving was coloured during an event in 2019 and the images went viral. Tempio Pausania is also famous for its spectacular Carnival, the tradition of which dates back to the first half of the 19th century. 

Urban trekking is a holiday choice for those who love walking, moving outdoors and getting to know new destinations. It is a perfect choice for those who love Italy and want to experience it intensely. Alongside this type of holiday, there are countless proposals for tours and trekking holidays throughout Italy from North to South. In addition to trekking, there are many more challenging possibilities: in Italy, hundreds of religious and non-religious paths can be chosen by those who want to live a naturalistic and spiritual experience. Even for non-believers, the long walk is a time to rediscover oneself. In this particular historical moment, due to the Covid and the related pandemic, trekking and walking can make a perfect detoxifying holiday after so many months of being shut inside the four walls of the home for lockdown.