Spring of Gentle Mobility 2026: tourist railways and cycle routes

Spring of Gentle Mobility 2026: tourist railways and cycle routes take centre stage

The Spring of Gentle Mobility, promoted by the Alliance for Gentle Mobility (Amodo), returns in 2026 to highlight slow, sustainable tourism and the role of tourist railways, cycle routes and walking paths in territorial enhancement.

This year's slogan, "Paths of peace, networks to share, routes for the common good", underlines priorities such as accessibility, inclusion and the regeneration of small towns. Key topics include the reuse of disused railway lines and integrated planning of cycleways and trails to support local development.

The national programme combines sector events and local initiatives. Main highlights include:

• Preview on 13 March at "Fa' la cosa giusta!" with the presentation of the Mobility Atlas and the "Borghi" Position Paper.
• 27 March: panel at the Padua Cycle Tourism Fair on cycleway and trail planning.
• 17–19 April in Bologna: the "Passo dopo passo" fair dedicated to walking tourism (with Touring Club Italiano).
• Ferrovie delle Meraviglie day and the Railway Marathon of Peace, a symbolic route from Pescara to Assisi via L'Aquila, Terni and Spoleto.
• Inclusive events such as Cammini Inclusivi and the Via Francigena Marathon Val di Susa (7 June).
• Cyclotourism events including the historic ride La Vulcanica, the Giro delle Regioni Ciclostoriche and the new Rappiandò randonnée on the Appian Way (4–5 July).
• 27 March conference in Trento on the Ora–Predazzo railway and restoration prospects towards Canazei.

Supported by ministries and sector organisations including Fondazione FS Italiane, ANCI and ASSTRA, the initiative aims to offer technical tools and guidance (the Mobility Atlas) to direct public investments towards territorial regeneration and the valorisation of railway and landscape heritage.

Why it matters: the Spring of Gentle Mobility promotes sustainable itineraries that connect cultural heritage, small towns and minor railway infrastructure, encouraging local economies and low-impact tourism models.