Via Vandelli

Via Vandelli is a historic long-distance hiking trail between Modena and Massa in northern Italy, linking the Po Plain with the Tyrrhenian coast. The route crosses the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the Apuan Alps, covering roughly 170 kilometers (106 miles).

Duke Francesco III d'Este commissioned engineer Domenico Vandelli between 1738 and 1751 to build a road connecting his inland possessions with newly acquired coastal territories. The route became the main commercial artery between the duchies and provided direct access to the sea.

The route bears the name of its creator and crosses regions that once belonged to different territorial domains. Along the way, hikers encounter villages whose architecture still reflects the connection between mountains and coast.

The path demands good physical condition, as around 60 percent consists of mountain trails and 40 percent of paved sections. Hikers should plan several days and prepare for changing weather conditions in the mountains.

Stone switchbacks from the 18th century remain visible in the Apuan Alps and show the engineering skill of that era. These turns were laid by hand to make steep slopes passable.