We can be heroes: in Garibaldi’s footsteps from Arezzo to the sea | Tim Parks

The great general of Italy’s unification undertook an epic march to Venice in 1849. Following his route today is less of a feat, but still brings majestic rewards

Arezzo to the Adriatic, that’s the plan. Which means crossing the Apennines, Italy’s mountainous spine.

Most hikers walk these hills in the other direction, using the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrim path from northern Europe to Rome. But when we made this trip, we were following in the footsteps of the Risorgimento hero Giuseppe Garibaldi as he tried to march 4,000 men from Rome to Venice after the fall of the Roman Republic in July 1849.