On the road to sustainability: stories of territories revitalised thanks to slow tourism

The Piedmont stretch of the Via Francigena crosses landscapes of remarkable variety: from the wine-growing hills of Monferrato to Alpine valleys, passing through historic villages and rural areas that have found new development prospects in slow tourism. In this region, the route is increasingly taking shape as a tangible model of sustainable and accessible tourism.

In recent years, Piedmont has invested significantly in improving hospitality standards and designing inclusive routes, implementing targeted interventions to make certain stretches accessible to people with reduced mobility, families with pushchairs and walkers with specific needs.

Among the most significant initiatives developed along the Piedmont section of the Via Francigena is HIKE4ALL, a European project that interprets the pilgrimage route as a space for inclusion and active citizenship. Its aim is straightforward yet transformative: to make the slow tourism experience accessible by overcoming physical, cognitive and social barriers through walks and sporting events open to everyone. Coordinated by Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene (European Association of the Via Francigena Ways), the project involves local authorities, associations and operators, placing people at its core. It is not merely a matter of adapting infrastructure but of fostering a culture of inclusive hospitality through accessible signage and information, accommodation attentive to diverse needs, and routes designed for a variety of walkers.

The importance of this approach is also reflected in the enhancement of local heritage through concrete actions such as restoring ancient paths, refurbishing historic buildings, organising widespread cultural events and promoting zero-mile products. In areas such as the Susa Valley and the hilly areas of Piedmont, slow tourism has generated new employment opportunities linked to hiking guidance, craftsmanship and sustainable catering.

The result is a local supply chain that combines landscape conservation, social inclusion and tourism innovation. The walking route thus becomes a meeting space where sustainability is environmental, cultural and social – as well as a source of economic benefit for the region.

If Piedmont tells a story of revival through vineyards and rolling hills, in Sardinia the Santa Barbara Mining Trail offers an equally powerful and original narrative: that of a territory shaped by the history of mining, now at the centre of a project of cultural, environmental and social regeneration. Over 500 km long, this route connects mining sites and villages affected by the decline of the industry, transforming them into stages of a journey of memory, art and nature. Old industrial infrastructure, tunnels and abandoned chimneys become the setting for a path that speaks of resilience, identity and sustainability, inviting visitors to reflect on the relationship between people and the environment. At the heart of the project lies a strong commitment to environmental protection and territorial regeneration. Enhancing trails and villages linked to mining heritage has encouraged the development of local initiatives focused on sustainable hospitality. This reconversion also takes place through education, with workshops for young people and school involvement aimed at keeping collective memory alive while fostering new skills connected to cultural tourism.

Although fragmentary, the most recent surveys confirm a growing trend: slow tourism, which favours walking or cycling, longer stays and a deeper connection with places, generates more widespread economic benefits and less impact on the environment than mass tourism. Unlike large urban destinations, these historic routes encourage people to stay in rural areas, supporting small businesses and contributing to reduced transport emissions. Sustainability thus becomes not merely an ethical value but a model of local development: new employment opportunities in rural communities, revitalisation of depopulated villages and cultural exchange between visitors and residents. It is a form of tourism that invests in human and landscape capital, rather than plundering it. In this context, services for walkers provided by small and medium-sized enterprises are crucial, as demonstrated by European interest in supporting, enhancing and funding them through projects such as DETOUR.


This article was produced in collaboration with the editorial team of Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene.