Hiking from Bologna to Florence: the Via degli Dei

A walk from Bologna to Florence, from Piazza Maggiore in Bologna to Piazza della Signoria in Florence. Two beautiful, bustling, and very different cities, separated by the enchanting Apennines. During this challenging walking tour, you’ll explore the region at a leisurely pace. You can walk this route on your own and make your own arrangements.

Below, we also describe how you can organize your trip. Whether you choose to travel independently or with luggage transport, GPX routes, and hotel stays included—the choice is yours.

This historic route along the Path of the Gods, also known as the Via degli Dei, runs alongside the Via Flaminia Militare, the ancient Roman road connecting the regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. The Roman road was built around 187 B.C. A section of the Roman pavement is still visible near Monte Bastione.

Even earlier, the route was used by the Etruscans to cross the Apennines as part of their trade route. The route gets its name from the gods you encounter along the way: Monte Adone (the Greek god Adonis), Monte Venere (Venus), Monte Giove (Jupiter), and Monte Lunario (Lua).

It is a hiking trail to a forgotten world: small villages, “sacred” mountains, and deserted passes in the Apennines, along with valleys, rivers, plains, and ridges, allow you to relive life as it once was, in a time without haste.

We have divided this centuries-old route into 6 evenly spaced stages. Of course, you can adjust this to suit your preferences. It’s a fairly challenging hiking trip that includes mountainous terrain. You’ll hike through two regions: Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. The route described below is an 8-day trip that you can do on your own.

Day 1: Walking Tour of Bologna

Bologna, the vibrant capital of Emilia-Romagna, a university city beloved by legendary Italian songwriters such as Francesco Guccini and Lucio Dalla. Explore Bologna on foot. There’s plenty to see in the historic city center, including the remarkable Basilica of San Petronio, the Sala Borsa, Piazza Santo Stefano, and the Torre degli Asinelli.

Overnight stay in Bologna.

Day 2: Hike from Bologna to Sasso Marconi

21 km, +400 m, -400 m

The walk along the Via degli Dei begins at the iconic statue of Neptune in Piazza del Nettuno and continues through the world’s longest portico, that of San Luca. After a stop at the sanctuary of the same name—a pilgrimage site for the people of Bologna—you’ll enter the Parco della Chiusa and follow the course of the Reno River through meadows, vegetable gardens, and forests. You’ll reach and pass through the surprising oasis of San Gherardo, a true natural paradise just a stone’s throw from the city. The first stage along the Via degli Dei ends in the small village of Sasso Marconi, which took its current name in honor of Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi.

Overnight stay in Sasso Marconi.

Day 3: Hike from Sasso Marconi to Monzuno

17 km, +620 m, -380 m

Today’s stage begins in the Contrafforte Pliocenico Nature Reserve. If you’re on an organized tour, you’ll be taken here by a short private transfer. Immerse yourself in the Contrafforte Pliocenico Nature Reserve, which was formed on a majestic rocky outcrop that bears witness to a prehistoric tidal wave.

If you follow the trails in the reserve, you’ll soon find yourself heading uphill toward Monte Adone. From the top of the mountain, you’ll see the stunning panoramic view of the Via degli Dei trail leading toward Florence.

Today’s stage along the Via degli Dei ends in Monzuno, where you can visit the Nino Bertocchi–Lea Colliva Art Gallery, a small, unique museum in this little village dedicated to these two important painters. Overnight stay in Monzuno.

Day 4: Hike from Monzuno to Bruscoli

20 km, +840 m, -560 m

The walk along the Path of the Gods continues through the village of Le Croci, once a border point between the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Papal States. You’ll then continue on to the village of Madonna dei Fornelli, which grew up around the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Neve.

You’ll follow the ridge of the Apennines and pass through vast beech forests that preserve the basalt of the ancient Via Flaminia Militare. This beautiful route leads you to Bruscoli, where you’ll spend the night.

Day 5: Hike from Bruscoli to San Piero a Sieve

30 km, +590 m, -1,290 m (or 21 km, +530 m, -1,100 m)

Today, a beautiful hike in the mountains takes you along picturesque forest trails. After the initial ups and downs, the Via degli Dei reaches Passo della Futa: here, on a hill, lies the solemn German military cemetery, where German soldiers who fell along the Gothic Line are buried.

After the legendary Passo dell’Osteria Bruciata, you’ll descend quickly to Sant’Agata, which has a bar and a supermarket, as well as the option to continue by bus.

Overnight stay in San Piero a Sieve.

Day 6: Hike from San Piero a Sieve to Vetta le Croci

20 km, +820 m, -600 m

Today’s leg of the hike along the Via degli Dei is almost entirely unpaved.

The route takes you to the Florence basin, through beautiful chestnut, hazelnut, and oak forests, juniper bushes, and wide clearings and fields planted with olive trees.

After a few kilometers, you’ll pass through the village of Trebbio, home to the castle of the same name, surrounded by majestic cypress trees: Lorenzo the Magnificent loved to spend time here while hunting.

The final climb to the Monte Senario monastery marks your departure from the Mugello Basin for good. This is the most important monastery in Tuscany and is definitely worth a visit. Afterward, you’ll descend toward Vetta delle Croci and then on to Olmo.

Overnight stay in Olmo.

Day 7: Hike from Vetta delle Croci to Fiesole/Florence

17 km, +290 m, -670 m (or 10 km, +280 m, -430 m)

The final leg of the Path of the Gods brings you back to civilization, leading you to the entrance of beautiful but bustling Florence.

The first part of today’s journey offers the last unforgettable glimpses of the Apennines as they descend toward Fiesole.

In beautiful Fiesole, a natural balcony overlooking Florence, you can visit the well-preserved archaeological site featuring Roman baths and an amphitheater, bordered by the oldest Etruscan walls. From Fiesole, the route descends toward Florence, which you can reach with a short bus transfer.

Overnight stay in Florence.

Day 8: Florence

Today marks the end of the “Path of the Gods” hike! Enjoy Florence and all its Renaissance splendor—if you still have the energy to walk…

Path of the Gods on the map

Who can hike the Path of the Gods?

The route is suitable for experienced hikers in good physical condition. The daily distances are considerable, and there are quite a few elevation changes. The route follows mainly unpaved trails. In many places, the forest provides shelter from the heat of the sun. Comfortable hiking boots, a hat, plenty of water, sunscreen, and a rain jacket are recommended. The average daily distance is between 17 and 30 km, with a hiking time of 5 to 8 hours. Two of the six stages can be shortened by using public transportation.

Of course, you can simply arrange the routes and accommodations on your own and, if you wish, change your accommodations from those described above. Check out other hiking trips here.