We are a group of people who, for work, passion or simple curiosity, believe in the value of outdoor activities to explore the nature, culture and gastronomy of this land full of charm. We love our land and believe in its “slow” development. The kind made of small towns that breathe community, where a strong and proud sense of belonging and identity prevails. Places of history, traditions and culture that can only be appreciated through slow travel, listening to and dialoguing with the places one passes through.
Behind this idea, since 2019, a group has been working—heterogeneous as it may be—that has made, like the Mugello, diversity a true strength.
The Core Team
- Alessio Barletti, journalist and hiker
- Periscopio Comunicazione, event organizer with strengths in promotion, graphic and creative development
- “Proforma Soc. Coop. Impresa Sociale”, the technical team who realigned and guided a multifaceted project, and developed the idea of a food processing lab available to our businesses and walkers
- Lorenzo Quartani, coach, trainer, and founder of Mugello Slow. He developed the Orme di Benessere (Wellness Tracks) section, coordinating the involved professionals and helping define the wellness-focused experiential offering. He also handled promotion across the territory, enhancing the philosophy of Slow Tourism
- Roberto Brunetti, instructor with the Italian School of Mountain Bike Masters, excursion organizer and group leader always on his bike, photography and drone enthusiast. He curated the initial creation of GPS tracks, route mapping, and will coordinate the work of two-wheeled guides, as well as produce photography and video for our platform
- Giuseppe Ronconi, forester and walking enthusiast, who meticulously developed the trails meter by meter, pixel by pixel, mapped them, identified points of interest, and worked on the harmonious development of the routes
- Dario Nardini, anthropologist and passionate about traditions and agri-food development, who identified ways to involve local companies and products to promote during the walks, also contributing an anthropological perspective to our paths
Our Fellow Travelers
- Lorenzo Incagli, who brought his skills and experience to engage local businesses
- Marianna Sonni, who oversaw training and relations with Environmental Hiking Guides and schools, supporting the education of younger generations
- Francesca Fani, Tour Guide and Dog Educator, who helped develop Pet Friendly Tourism experiences with her expertise and care for the wellbeing of our four-legged friends
Mugello Collaborators
- Andrea Paoli and Kuna, who helped us create the website and the web app now available to everyone, finding solutions even when we thought none existed
- Christian Caruso, who walked our paths, both ideally and in reality, describing them and giving us a unique tool to experience them fully
- Serena Pinzani, who created and wrote the stories of our audio guide with great detail and historical research, helping listeners better appreciate the stories and characters of the Mugello
- Marco Paoli, Marco Bianchini and Valentina Cipriani, who lent their voices to bring those characters back to life
- Elena Caporicci, who conceived and designed with us the info points to be placed around the territory
- Ilaria Mocali, who contributed her photography skills to complete Roberto’s work in telling the story of the territory
- Pietro Checchi, who supported Giuseppe in analyzing and mapping the trails
Institutions and Partners
Special thanks to the Tourism Office of the Unione Montana dei Comuni del Mugello, who followed us step by step, coordinating and sharing various stages, guiding us through unknown areas and helping us build a network.
A network of nearly thirty partners, including:
- Associations (especially CAI)
- Trade Organizations
- Schools
- Universities
In particular, the Pro Loco of San Piero a Sieve and the Pro Loco of Barberino, who from the very beginning believed in the project’s goals, supported it, got involved, shared the journey, and saw it as an opportunity for the Mugello and therefore for their own communities as well.
The Partnership
- Istituto di Istruzione Superiore “Giotto Ulivi”
- Arci Firenze
- Banco Fiorentino – Mugello Impruneta Signa – Cooperative Credit Bank
- CIA – Italian Farmers, Central Tuscany (Florence-Prato-Pistoia)
- Confcommercio – Enterprises for Italy, Florence Province
- Off. CU-Bo – Officina Cultura Borgo San Lorenzo APS
- MOCA FUTURE DESIGNERS Cooperative Social Enterprise
- Coldiretti Florence-Prato
- Italian Alpine Club – Florence Section APS
- Istituto di Istruzione Superiore Chino Chini
- Confesercenti Metropolitan Florence
- UNIFI – Department of Biology at the University of Florence
- Accademia Canina – Social Promotion Association
- Bikemood ASD
- Agriambiente Mugello SCA
- Metropolitan City of Florence
- SAGAS Department – University of Florence
- Gruppo d’Erci APS
- CNA Florence Metropolitan
Thanks to...
But above all, a network of men and women who, by offering their professionalism, passion and—most of all—their time, helped us turn what was a dream in 2019 into a reality for those who, with enthusiasm and a touch of recklessness, first set out.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to the team at GAL START—Giovanni, Tommaso, and Isabel in particular—and to Francesco Bugoloni, who helped us navigate the world of funding calls, advising and guiding us in the development of this project.
And to the local administrators who, in various forms, supported us, made us feel their encouragement, opened the doors of the municipalities, and pushed for a project that looked beyond individual towns to an entire territory.
An Open Door
A project that, like the years it took to develop and by its very nature, keeps its door open to anyone who wants to contribute to improving and carrying it forward. Because walking requires many good travel companions.
“And we reach the goal singing, or no one arrives at all...”