European spirituality is founded on the experience of pilgrimage — a journey leading to the Holy Places. Among the most famous and most travelled is the route leading to the striking cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Near Zamberlan®'s headquarters, however, runs an even older itinerary: the Romea Strata. Traced by wayfarers and pilgrims who set out from Eastern Europe bound for Rome, this route winds through Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria before entering Italy at Tarvisio.
Today, after years of work, the Romea Strata trail has been brought back to light: 1,400 kilometres connecting Northern Italy to Rome, forever a favoured destination for Christians — and not only. The route crosses 185 municipalities and five regions and is divided into five main branches, all converging at Fucecchio in Tuscany, where pilgrims join the Via Francigena for the final 365 kilometres to Rome. The Romea Strata is an extraordinary heritage that lets walkers discover natural, artistic and historical wonders. But its true wealth lies in the traditions of its peoples and villages: a unique opportunity to encounter places and people of inestimable value.
Zamberlan® and the Romea Strata: our contribution
The Romea Strata passes close to Zamberlan®'s headquarters. Our company's ninety years of history were made possible by exactly this: a passion for setting out on foot, discovering new horizons at the natural rhythm of one's steps, and a deep love for our territory and its ancient traditions. These principles led us to support the project of the European Romea Strata Association, whose goal is to revive and promote the route so that it can become a new itinerary for pilgrims and hikers from all over the world.
In concrete terms, we designed a new hiking shoe, ideal for covering long distances. The ROMEA STRATA GTX, created by Zamberlan®, was presented on 24 June 2019 in Aquileia. A perfect union of natural materials and modern construction techniques, guaranteeing maximum foot comfort even over long distances. The Romea Strata itinerary presents many types of terrain and the possibility of highly variable weather; the new Zamberlan® footwear was designed with precisely these factors in mind — thanks to fine Italian leathers and a GORE-TEX lining, it ensures breathability and waterproofing in any situation.