1,000 km Later, Ambassador Davide Fiz Reaches Rome

23 June 2025

1,000 kilometres on foot along the Via Francigena: Davide Fiz and the Smart Walking project arrive in Rome – but the journey isn’t over yet!

Davide Fiz, founder of the Smart Walking project, reached Rome on 22 June, marking a key milestone in his long and meaningful journey along the Via Francigena.

Setting off last March from the picturesque Great St Bernard Pass (read more here), Fiz walked approximately 1,000 kilometres – a feat that also resulted in a saving of around 160 kg of CO₂ emissions compared to an equivalent car journey. A concrete action that underlines not only the symbolic value of walking, but also its ecological and environmental potential.

WALKING AS A WAY OF LIFE

Davide’s journey, undertaken as an EAVF Ambassador for the Jubilee Year 2025, is a powerful example of how walking can become a genuine lifestyle. He successfully combined the ability to work remotely with the slow discovery of Italy’s landscapes – yet his experience went far beyond that.

Over the past few months, Davide has actively participated in numerous meetings along the route, engaging with local authorities, associations, and businesses operating along the path. He has built meaningful connections and enthusiastically promoted the potential of sustainable tourism and the enhancement of the regions crossed by the Via Francigena.
Now the journey continues: Davide will walk the southern stretch of the route all the way to Santa Maria di Leuca, where he is expected to arrive on 12 October.

MORE THAN JUST KILOMETRES: A BRIDGE OF IDEAS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Fiz’s walk is not just about the distance covered; it’s a deep immersion into culture, history and nature – contributing actively to environmental sustainability and the strengthening of local networks.

The Via Francigena itself proves to be a powerful connector of people and ideas, as EAVF’s late founder Massimo Tedeschi – who passed away exactly one year ago – often said. It also serves as a hotbed for entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for tourism-related businesses along the route. European initiatives such as the Detour project confirm this, highlighting the vital link between mindful travellers and the development of a local, ethical and environmentally conscious economy.

Davide Fiz’s arrival in Rome is not only the fulfilment of a personal challenge; it marks a pivotal moment in reaffirming the value of walking as a mindful, sustainable form of travel that benefits both communities and the environment.

“It’s been a journey through time and space. From the snow and chill of the Great St Bernard Pass to the sweltering heat of Rome, through hills, plains, historic cities, resilient villages and towns. I walked across Italy, I breathed it in, I met its people and stepped into their homes. Rome is only a midway stop – my Via Francigena continues all the way to the sea at Santa Maria di Leuca.”
– Davide Fiz