Hospitality for Pilgrims or Walkers? Here is our commitment with the Via degli Abati

Before going into the merits of the topic “hospitality for pilgrims or walkers”, we thought to spend 2 words to tell the reason for our involvement to support the Association of volunteers who have been managing, for so many years and with increasing success, the Via degli Abati.

For those who do not know it, they take care of, with promotion, maintenance and tracking, of the itinerary that goes from Bobbio to Pontremoli even if the pilgrims and walkers now tend to travel also the stretch that starts from Pavia and leads to Bobbio. For the latter, however, the maps are not yet available and the information available are not yet complete. The page dedicated to this route  has been opened and will be implemented from time to time with the information that will be available.

The association is therefore not involved directly in the organization of hospitality for pilgrims or walkers along the way itself, but participates in the dissemination of all the services that can be found long of that.

The Via degli Abati, which can also be traveled in mountain bike (with adequate bike and physical preparation) as well as on foot; crosses part of the provincial territory of Pavia and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines in the provinces of:

• Piacenza

• Parma

• Massa Carrara

crossing the municipalities of:

• Pavia
• Broni
• Castana
• Canevino
• Pometo
• Caminata
• Romagnese
• Bobbio
• Coli
• Farini
• Bardi
• Borgo Val di Taro
• Pontremoli.

The route about 190 km long, much more demanding than the best known via Francigena, unfolds for paths, mule tracks, cart tracks through valleys and ridges for a total difference in height of over 6000 meters. It is marked CAI-Italian Alpine Club (horizontal bands with white and red colors), it is georeferentiated (it is possible to download the track in GPX format), and is cartographically well illustrated on four 1/25,000 scale paper-guides (Italian-English), which you can find in this site under the item “Paperguide“, together with the methods for to request it.

Here are some good reasons to take this path, not just a walk, and you’ll:
– Discover the Apennines in its most natural and unspoiled part;
– Find history and culture, good food and genuine hospitality;
– Walk almost exclusively on paths, mule tracks and cart track.
For More informations: https://www.viadegliabati.com/the-abbots-way-english-version/

But let’s go back to the topic mentioned in the title of this article. First of all, it is necessary to make a little clarity compared to the types of hospitality, whether we talk about pilgrim or walker.

Along the whole Via degli Abati, but in general it happens in all the historical paths, it is possible to stay overnight in different types of structures:

• “Pilgrim” accommodation: hostels, parishes, private houses;

• Affiliated Tourist facilities: farmhouses, hotels, b & b, guest house

We allow ourselves to highlight, for those walkers who decide to leave with the tent, which in Emilia Romagna as well as in other regions crossed by the Via degli Abati, it is not possible to do “free camping”. Then “ask , to some private owner with garden, is lawful and responding is courtesy “;-). However, it is important don’t forget that it will probably not be possible to take a shower, by choosing this travel mode. It is important not to leave waste or trace of the passage/bivouac.

Often the parish priest or volunteers manage the accommodation for pilgrims. In some cases it is good (even if not requested), to leave a voluntary economic contribution

The organization of the hospitalities along the Via degli Abati may not be widespread and economic as along the path of Santiago or the Via Francigena. These historical paths are much better known internationally and structured precisely because they are financially supported even at European level. Therefore it is good to organize yourself in advance, identifying the adequate welcome to your needs in each stage.

Often the hospitality present on a mountainous territory have few beds available.

We suggested to book the tourist facilities, while it is probably not necessary for “pilgrims” accommodations.

However, and above all with the persistence of coexistence with Covid-19, it is good to warn at least 1 day before, specifying the arrival time, since often the custodians of the hostels do not live near the structure.

Without notice, you can risk finding the premises closed or already occupied by a suitable number of guests.

It is good to make sure before leaving that the accommodations or turistic structures are open. During the autumn, winter or early spring period probably they have restrictions related to the need to switch on the heating in the premises used, especially, for hospitality.

Well, after telling something about the Via degli Abati, of the Association that manages it and disserted on the topic “hospitality for pilgrims or walkers” (with the hope of having been a minimum support) we want to tell some anecdote relating to our commitment to improve us and to make adequate promotion to our places.

From the same name as our activity (Tolasudolsa Rooms, Breakfast & Mountain Bike) it is clear that we have, in addition to traditional ones, some services dedicated to bicycle lovers …… specifically those who love mountain bike, indifferently that it is muscle or pedal assisted.

In addition to this, our “green vocation” leads us to support and welcome, as far as possible, everything that has sustainable aspects/methods.

“so (you will say), what has a bike house in common with a historical path and an association that manages a path frequented by walkers or pilgrims?”

We start from the main fact that Tolasudolsa R&B is located about ten kilometers away from the path of the Via degli Abati but since we arrived in Valtaro in 2014, from the hinterland of Milan, we understood that it was important to do network with other realities of the area, indifferently of the commercial type and/or non -profitable purpose

We therefore decided to adhere to the promotion project of this historical path with the awareness that would have brought us little economic benefit if not a little visibility.

From 2021 then we decided to offer our collaboration to the board of the association.

We therefore decided to join the promotion project of this historical journey with the awareness that would have brought us little economic benefit and perhaps a little visibility. From 2021 then we decided to make us available by offering our collaboration within the Board of the Association.

In recent years, some walkers have however chosen us, despite the distance, to rest even one night and made themselves pampered.

They have welcome the tranquility very much, thanks to the proximity of the woods, the comfortable beds and the warm and substantial dinner

For walkers who face the way alone, we can offer accommodation in a real single room (in addition to the single use of a double room) with private bathroom, with the advantage therefore to contain the expense.

As for rates, being a commercial activity with costs, obviously it will not be possible to offer economic solutions to the levels of the large organizations on the main international ways/paths.

We are also available to :

• those who have the credentials, to recognize dedicated discounts
• offer a meal at moderate prices and agreeing the menu.
• take and take back on the way, free of charge, those who stay with us.

During the autumn, winter and early spring periods, reservations are required with 2gg notice with respect to check-in, precisely to allow the correct heating of the premises used for accommodartion.

To know Tolasudolsa more in-depthly : https://roomsbreakfastmtb.com

Reservations are recommended through this link: https://bit.ly/DirectBooking-Tolasudolsa