Walking is good for your health, protects the planet we live on and allows us to discover the places we visit in a more intimate and profound way. But have you ever wondered what the best city in the world to walk in? If this has happened to you, know that in this article you will find the answer, because according to a survey by the financial site Insider Monkey this city is located in Italy and is one of the most evocative in the whole world: Florence.
How the investigation was conducted
Insider Monkey conducted an investigation from which the ranking of the most walkable cities in the world. This is a study that was carried out based on sources such as Tourlane And WalkScore, from where precise scores were obtained, the distances between five main tourist attractions of each destination were mapped, the various air qualities were also checked using the I dataQAir and assessed crime and safety indices to further ensure walkability.
The site then examined all the information collected until arriving at the definitive answer, namely that it is our beautiful Florence that is the most walkable place on earth, the one where it is truly pleasant to take a walk.
Because Florence won
Florence, pearl of Tuscany and masterpiece of the entire world, is a city with Renaissance history and timeless architecture: both accompany the visitor step by step towards corners of pure wonder. The excellent walkability of Florence can be felt immediately from its historic center, full of fascinating narrow alleys that slowly open up towards mammoth and extraordinary timeless monuments.
But that’s not all, because its main tourist attractions, such as the Uffizi Gallery, the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, are all within approximately 800 meters of each other. other, making it easy to reach them on foot in more or less 10 minutes.
According to this survey, the air qualitywhich certainly is not an aspect to be underestimated for all those who love walking in the places they visit.
The phenomenon of the Italian walk
Go to take a walk, for us Italians, it is a very normal activity. For foreigners, however, it is a real phenomenon, a characteristic of ours that they can’t wait to experience once they set foot in this magnificent country.
If it is therefore something natural for all of us, the situation is very different for foreign tourists who see in this activity something new, to learn or even to prepare for before the trip: it is no coincidence that it is called “Italian walk”.
On the web, in fact, it is possible to find several articles in foreign languages that explain, in detail, the origins of this phenomenon together with a series of advice on how to practice it in the best possible way. Among the things most loved by foreigners about the Italian walk is the visual aspect – therefore being seen or observing other people walking – to such an extent that it is underlined that to practice it in the most appropriate way it is often important wear some cute clothes.
But that’s not all, because the Italian walk is also described as the ideal activity to implement the famous “game of glances”, and therefore perhaps fall in love with some handsome Italian man or woman.
Yes, because if for us it is a habitual thing, for foreigners the relational aspect of a walk, therefore of a particular type of socialization which has managed to involve all generations for centuries. Another very relevant aspect for foreigners is that with a walk you can appreciate and give value to simple things. Finally, the physical and psychological benefits resulting from taking a walk, an activity that manages to keep you more active both physically and mentally.
The rest of the ranking
As mentioned, Florence is the best city in the world to explore on foot, but the list certainly doesn’t end there. In second place is Riga, the capital of Latvia overlooking the Baltic Sea, where the main tourist attractions are all within a 2.5 kilometer radius.
Bronze Medal for Hamburgone of the most important port cities in Germany, while fourth place is Portan extraordinary masterpiece from Northern Portugal.
Closing the Top five is Madrid, the lively capital of Spain characterized by elegant avenues and large, well-kept parks.
