We live in a world that should be loved, respected and explored with awareness. Therefore, more and more projects are being created that aim to help discover the areas of our planet in an eco-sustainable way. One of them is named WALKING and, in addition to giving the opportunity to make three dream itineraries, it stimulates the use of healthy and active lifestyles.
How HIKE works
HIKE is a project of Erasmus+ which aims to promote healthy and active lifestyles through the participation of local communities inexcursions and sports activities correlated along historical routes, such as the Via Francigena, the Via Egnatia and the Via della Tolleranza.
It is therefore a project that develops in three countries – Italy, Greece and Turkey – where a series of free hiking events are planned along the Via Francigena in Puglia, the Via Egnatia near the Greek Edessa, and near Izmit, along the Via Eurasia. Road of Tolerance, in Turkey.
The planned “walks” will be accompanied by expert hikers who will take the participants to follow the steps of historical travelers, but also to participate in workshops, animated activities and much more, without forgetting the health benefits of hiking.
The project will include the celebration of European Week of Sport 2024 (23 – 30 September 2024), animations and collateral events designed to celebrate walking as a universally accessible activity.
The three magnificent itineraries
The website of this interesting project is finally online where it is possible to find detailed information about the free excursions and planned activities along the hiking trails of the three villages involved. There are available track maps and all the details, with updates and in-depth articles on healthy lifestyles.
Via Francigena in Puglia
During next September it will be possible to participate in six free excursions along the Via Francigena in Puglia, in the beautiful stretch that goes from Bari to Brindisi. Along the way, as already mentioned before, there will be no shortage of workshops, meetings and activities, and then little by little they will reach Toasts on the same days as the celebration of the European Week of Sport.
In detail, from the 12th to the 15th of September, everyone puts on their trekking shoes to go from Bari to monopoly. The first stretch, about 23 kilometers, involves walking on a path considered moderately demanding that takes an average of 4 hours and 39 minutes to complete.
The next day on the road from Mola di Bari to Polignano a Mare, along the coast of this magnificent region, plowing a path of 16 beautiful kilometers that represent one of the most suggestive stretches of the Via Francigena du Sudalternating stretches of breathtaking coastline with inland routes full of centuries-old vineyards and olive groves.
The adventure ends on Sunday, September 15 with a walk that goes from Polignano a Mare to Monopoli. It is a 12 km coastal trek that leads to the discovery of many dream coves that develop near picturesque coves, small fishing villages, underground caves dug into the rock and much more.
The other planned adventure will come to life on September 27-29 and will take travelers from Torre Canne (Fasano) to Brindisi. The first stretch is 18 km and goes from Torre Canne to Ostuni, the white city of Puglia, that makes people fall in love with anyone who sets foot on it.
On Saturday, September 28, there will be 12 km to go from Ostuni to Torre Santa Sabina, and then finish the next day with another 15 km from Torre Guacetu to Brindisi.
The Via Egnatia in Greece
October will instead be the month of Greece, where six free excursions are planned in the unique region of Edessain the lush stretch from Florina to Pella: from 11 to 13 October 2024 from Arnissa to Edessa and from 18 to 20 October 2024 from Edessa to Prophitis Ilias.
This is an ancient but beautiful road designed by the Romans that passes through breathtaking waterfalls and really peculiar places that, for this occasion, will also be accompanied by interactive workshops and cultural visits to the important sites of the Greek heritage.
In essence, October will be a great opportunity because it will allow you to make a cultural itinerary that covers 2,500 years of history, with unforgettable stops in the most important attractions of northern Greece.
The Way of Tolerance in Turkey
The last scheduled appointment this year of the HIKE project is November, a month that will be dedicated to slowly discovering another magnificent and ancient country: the Turkey. Here you will plow the Road of Tolerancewhich will allow you to immerse yourself in the landscapes that have shaped civilizations, including the panoramas of Izmit and Kayalar, the charming villages of Servetiye and Kırıntı and the ancient aqueducts near the Gölkay Park.
To be precise, a series of excursions are planned from 1 to 3 November and from 8 to 10 of the same month, which promise a stimulating journey between the wonders of nature and insights into well-being. All this, of course, accompanied by fun activities and workshops designed for hikers and enthusiasts of all levels of physical fitness.
All that remains is to take advantage of the HIKE project.