Via Claudia Augusta
The place
Roman road between northern Italy and the northern Alps
Why go
Trento and its Castello del Buonconsiglio. Merano and its thermal promenades. Resia and its lake with the submerged bell tower. Füssen and Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. The Danube at Donauwörth.
A bit of history
Laid out on the orders of Emperor Claudius to link Italy with Germania, the Via Claudia Augusta is documented by a milestone found at Rabland (South Tyrol) in 1552. The present-day hiking trail, waymarked in the 2000s by an international association, follows the ancient route wherever it can be identified, and otherwise runs along parallel rural paths.
Getting there
Altino (Venice): from Venice Marco Polo Airport. Donauwörth: train station (1h from Munich). Crosses 5 countries (IT, AT, DE).
Recommended gear
Lightweight waterproof hiking shoes. Suited to rural paths and paved Roman roads. Passport required.
Best season
April to October. Crossing the Alps (Resia Pass, 1,504 m) is possible from May to October. Cold winters on the German side.