There is one Italian destination in Lonely Planet’s just released annual Best in Travel 2021 list: and that is ‘Le Vie di Dante’ (Roads of Dante) in the ‘Sustainability’ category as an example of slow travel. And we're very proud to let you know that our very own Georgette Jupe, editor of Italy Magazine, has won an award in the 'Community' category' as the 'Expat Storyteller.'
This year, Lonely Planet has foregone the usual categories of ‘countries’, ‘regions’, ‘cities’ not to be missed, instead “recognizing places and people demonstrating a genuine commitment to sustainability, community and diversity;” recognizing therefore that, in the world of travel post-2020, it’s more important than ever to empower people “to travel responsibly and become agents of positive change.”
Thus, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2021 aims to celebrate the people and places that have made a significant contribution to the world of travel following the criteria of sustainability, community and diversity.
Le Vie di Dante falls within the Sustainability category in the ‘Walks’ theme. It is in fact “a meditative meander in the footsteps of Italy’s divine poet [...], stretching from his tomb in Ravenna to his birthplace in Florence.
This award is even more significant as it coincides with celebrations for the 700th anniversary of the ‘supreme poet’s death in 2021.
This walking itinerary runs between Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna to Florence in Tuscany, passing through the Apennine Mountains, hilltop villages, medieval castles and Romanesque churches, in the footsteps of Dante. It retraces the route that the author of the Divine Comedy is thought to have taken into exile from Florence in the early 14th century.
As explained on the Travel Emilia-Romagna’s blog, the walk begins at Dante’s tomb in Ravenna and ends at Dante’s House Museum in Florence, “taking in many of the places where the poet spent time in exile and which he described in many passages of the Divine Comedy.”
It is a 245-mile (395km), 20-stage trek. You can find detailed information on the walk’s dedicated website, Le Vie di Dante, where you can also research how to break the route, should you wish to walk just some parts of it.
You're probably familiar with Georgette Jupe's blog Girl in Florence, where she has been documenting her life in Florence since 2012. Her blog was selected because it "offers travelers a deeper connection to Italy’s most culturally significant city." Rather than just highlighting the famous sites in what is one of Italy's most sought-after destinations, Georgette sheds a light on what it's actually like to live in Florence, and on the people and places that make Florence the special city it is. In the words of Lonely Planet, "what sets her work apart is her immersion into the local community and a willingness to show a side of Florence few visitors see. Bringing the city's artists and artisans to life, Georgette devotes as many words to neighborhood restaurants like Sergio Gozzi as she does must-sees like San Miniato al Monte." If you don't yet know her, check her blog at girlinflorence.com. Congrats, Georgette!
