Italy's joint Capitals of Culture for 2023 are Bergamo and Brescia, earning this honor for their robust cultural offerings. Yet travelers who want to put a more outdoorsy spin on their visit to these marvelous cities can enjoy a brand-new hiking trail that connects the two. Along the way, trekkers will pass by two Unesco World Heritage sites, 34 communities, three wine regions and much more. 

After having shouldered the blow of the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cities’ designation as cultural capitals serves as a symbol of renaissance and hope, and the vast array of projects that they have put forward for the year are currently in full swing. This month, the new 'camino' trail launched, creating a roughly week-long slow-travel journey between the cities – which are only under an hour apart by car.