Zalone effect on Italian routes, prediction and alarm

The new film by Checco Zalone‘Buen Camino’, is already achieving dizzying numbers at the box office: in addition to attracting thousands of spectators to the cinema, the work of the multifaceted Apulian artist which talks about the Camino de Santiago could give rise to a real boom in travelers in Italy.

Zalone effect on paths in Italy: prediction and alarm

Paolo Piacentini, honorary president of Federtrek and among the leading experts on you walk in Italy it is certain that Zalone’s film will involve more and more faithful: “Zalone’s film will entice, there is no doubt – Piacentini’s words reported by the ‘Corriere della Sera’ – and it is very likely that it will increase the number of travellers, especially here.”

The same Piacentiniin addressing the topic after having personally witnessed Checco Zalone’s latest cinematic effort, spoke of the possible downside of the coin:

“What worries me, after having seen the film, is that the path goes hand in hand with respect for the territory and the communities that live there. That it does not simply translate into a multiplier of turismo. I have often seen people proceed quickly, without attention, just to say I have the credentials, I have walked ten paths, I have ten stamps”.

The expert then spoke of the steps forward made on the walking front in Italy, with attention no longer directed only to the Via Francigena, but raising a sort of alarm about how much work still needs to be done on the reception side and the lack of low-cost legislation:

“I wayfarers they prefer to eat well in the evening and for spiritual and ethical reasons sleep in a hostel or in houses made available for pilgrims on a free donation basis. The sober welcome is a choice that for many is part of the meaning of the journey.

To go to Santiago a young Spaniard can sleep for just a few euros, but if you take the Tuscan stretch of the Francigena the costs are much higher. The Regions invest money on the paths but then what happens? That if you don’t take care of them, if you don’t carry out maintenance, the investment suffers. In Santiago there is also greater attention to this.”

The success of Buen Camino

‘Buen Camino’ is the sixth film starring Checco Zalone: ​​the actor plays a rich heir who, just before turning fifty, sets off in search of his missing daughter along the Way of Santiago de Compostelafacing a journey that will lead him to come to terms with himself.

Distributed in Italian cinemas in Natale 2025the film immediately began a record climb at the box office, totaling almost 20 million euros in takings and 2.5 million admissions in the first three days of programming, quickly becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.

Filming of the film, which lasted approximately twelve weeks, took place starting from July 2025, including various locations in Italy, such as Rome and the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia. Abroad, however, several scenes were filmed along the Camino de Santiago, in “albuergue” and churches typical of the well-known route.