Night rescue on the Via degli Dei, the trail linking Florence and Bologna

Firefighters from the Florence command rescued a hiker who had lost his way along the Via degli Dei, the scenic walking route connecting Florence and Bologna through the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

The man became disoriented on Thursday evening, October 7, 2025, in a remote area near Scarperia, along one of the mountain sections of the trail. Rescue operations began at around 7:10 p.m., with teams from the Barberino del Mugello and Borgo San Lorenzo fire stations dispatched to the scene.

The Bologna-based helicopter Drago 160 was also deployed. Equipped with night vision goggles (NVG), the aircraft was able to fly in darkness and quickly locate the missing hiker. The man, cold but otherwise unharmed, was reached by rescue specialists and then accompanied by ground crews to a four-wheel-drive vehicle, before being handed over to medical personnel.

The Via degli Dei—literally “Way of the Gods”—is one of Italy’s most popular long-distance hiking routes. Stretching about 130 kilometers between Piazza Maggiore in Bologna and Piazza della Signoria in Florence, it follows ancient Roman and medieval roads across forests, valleys, and mountain passes, offering breathtaking views of the Apennines. It typically takes five to six days to complete on foot.

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