Minneapolis nonprofit takes travelers across rural Italy: ‘Walk with your hearts’

OnabriskspringmorninginRimini,Istoodinahushedcathedralwith11otherhikers,waitingforabishop’sblessing. AheadlaydaysofstrenuoustrekkingthroughItaly’smountainousEmilia-RomagnaregiontotheSanctuaryofLaVerna,aFranciscanmonasteryinTuscany.Togetherwewouldclimbanddescendfor75milesonpaths,someruggedandsteep.Sofar,wehadwalkedjustthreeflatcityblocks.Giventherigorsahead,pausingforcelestialaidseemedwise. WewerefollowinginthefootstepsofSt.FrancisofAssisi,butweweren’tonareligiouspilgrimage.MyhusbandandIjoinedthistrip,offeredbytheMinneapolis-basednonprofitEsperienza—whichreinvigoratesruralItalythroughphilanthropyandtourism—tovisithilltoptownswheretrainsdon’tstopandtouristsrarelyroam.Andwewouldtaketheslowapproach—byfoot. WehavebeentoItalymanytimes,butneverlikethis,witheachdayframedbyviewsofmountainswehadcrossedover,orwereyettoclimb.Bytheend,ourlegswereweary,andourheartswerefull. The11-daytripincludedfivehiking