On Saturday, October 12, the Greek town of Edessa hosted an international meeting of the HIKE project as part of its activities in Greece, bringing together European Association of Via Francigena, the Culture Routes Society, and Paths of Greece.
This meeting provided a valuable opportunity for dialogue among project partners from Italy, Greece, and Türkiye to exchange ideas on how best to promote walking and outdoor activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle, while also engaging the local community. At the heart of the discussion was the shared mission of the HIKE project: promoting psycho-physical well-being through sustainable, accessible, and environmentally friendly experiences along trails in direct contact with nature.
During the meeting, the project partners shared practices and initiatives that combine physical activity with introspection, fostering a balance between body and mind. The three days in Greece, walking along the Via Egnatia, were a perfect example of how this is possible, thanks to the walks organized by the local partner, which combined cultural visits, yoga sessions, and the exploration of the region and its local realities.
The Edessa meeting thus provided an opportunity to exchange best practices, discuss common strategies, and strengthen collaboration among the project partners, also considering the potential continuation of the project. After events in Italy along the Southern Via Francigena and along the Via Egnatia in Greece, HIKE activities will resume in November in Türkiye, with two new weekends of walking along the Tolerance Way.






[Pictures via Edessa24 and EAVF]