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Day 2: Badolo to Madonna di Fornelli

Day 2. 27km. Badolo to Madonna di Fornelli. Total: 56.5km.

‘La Via Degli Dei’ translates as ‘The Way of The Gods’, and today I began to see why. 

There was lots of steep climbing, but I was rewarded with beautiful views in every direction from the top of the ridge of the Apennine Mountains, which, of course, run most of the length of Italy, but here lie between Bologna and Florence. 

It’s beginning to look a little Tuscan, too.

The place I am staying tonight, I am very glad to say, is much more comfortable than yesterday. In fact, when I told the guy who runs this place where I stayed in Badolo he rolled his eyes and exclaimed “oh madré mia"! As a further bonus, there is plenty of hot water.

I had a very lovely dinner with two people from Belgium (one of whom has walked from her home there, and will finish in Rome), two Italians, and one from the Netherlands.

Together we spoke a mixture of languages and somehow managed to understand one another. 

I am beginning to think my love of travelling stems somewhat from my slight obsession with words and language…

Still in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, but the rolling countryside and fields made me think of Tuscany, which I would be entering in coming days.

"On the Via Degli Dei, new loves are born, new friendships, new ideas. And above all, new blisters on the feet!"

A rest area for hikers on the route, kindly provided by locals in Monzuno.

An inviting path leads onwards.

Picturesque countryside on the descent into Madonna di Fornelli

Italy is a Catholic country, and the Virgin Mary is particularly revered. You will find these small outdoor shrines to the Virgin everywhere across the country. They often display intricate craftsmanship. I find them quite beautiful. I am no believer, but the unassuming presence of these shrines, embedded in walls of city streets or tucked away in quiet countryside hedges like this, is a small reminder to pause and find stillness and magic in our busy world.

The first of many, many pizzas I would consume in Italy over the course of the next two months!