Via Vandelli

Conceived in 1728 and built in the following years, the Via Vandelli represented an extraordinarily innovative feat for its time. It was designed using modern engineering principles, featuring gentle gradients, paved sections, bridges, inns, and post stations, with the aim of creating a commercial and military route entirely within the territories of the Duchy of Este.

Today, the Via Vandelli is a trail approximately 201 km long, divided into 7 stages, which preserves long stretches of the 18th-century route. Alongside the main route from Modena, there is also the historic Sassuolo branch, built to connect the Ducal Palace to the main route.

In Emilia-Romagna, the route crosses the Modena area, passing through Serramazzoni, Pavullo nel Frignano, Lama Mocogno, and Lago Santo Modenese, until it reaches San Pellegrino in Alpe, an ancient hospice on the border between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. From here, the route continues through the Garfagnana, crosses the Apuan Alps via the Tambura Pass, and finally reaches Massa, where the road once allowed the House of Este to look out over the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The Via Vandelli alternates between cities of art, forests, ancient mule trails, sections of the original road that are still perfectly preserved, and spectacular mountain landscapes. It is an itinerary that tells the story of the Duchy of Este and the evolution of the routes connecting the Po Valley to the sea.

The trail can be traveled on foot, by mountain bike, or on a gravel bike; it is marked with CAI trail markers and dedicated signage, and GPS tracks are available. Along the route, there are mountain huts, farm stays, and lodging options that allow you to plan your trip in multiple stages.

Along its route, the Via Vandelli intersects with several of the Apennines’ major trails, includingthe Alta Via dei Parchi, the Via Matildica del Volto Santo, the Via Francigena, the Romea Strata Nonantolana, and the Via Romea Germanica Imperiale.

The Via Vandelli is part of the Emilia-Romagna Pilgrimage Routes and Trails network.