Romea Strata

The Romea Strata (Road to Rome) is one of Europe's newest certified pilgrimage routes, connecting the Baltic states to the Eternal City along ancient roads and medieval paths. Certified by the Council of Europe as a Cultural Route in 2025, it revives the tradition of pilgrims from Northern and Eastern Europe journeying to Rome.

📜 History & Significance

Throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrims from the Baltic, Poland, and Central Europe traveled to Rome to venerate the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul and receive the pope's blessing. These "Romei" (pilgrims to Rome) used a network of routes that crossed the Alps at various passes and converged on the Eternal City.

The modern Romea Strata project, launched in the 2010s, has identified and waymarked these historic corridors, creating a unified route from the Baltic to Rome. The Council of Europe certification in 2025 recognized its importance as a living heritage connecting European peoples and cultures.

🥾 Route Overview

The Romea Strata covers approximately 2,200 km from the Baltic Sea to Rome, passing through seven countries: Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria, and Italy. The journey takes roughly three months of walking.

Multiple starting points and variants exist along the route. The main corridor descends through Central Europe, crossing the Alps into Italy before following established pilgrim roads through the Po Valley and Apennines to Rome.

☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites

Vilnius (Lithuania) - The Gate of Dawn with its miraculous icon of Our Lady, starting point for Baltic pilgrims.

Kraków (Poland) - City of St. John Paul II, with the Divine Mercy Sanctuary and Wawel Cathedral.

Vienna (Austria) - St. Stephen's Cathedral and the pilgrimage churches of the Habsburg capital.

Aquileia (Italy) - The ancient patriarchal city with its remarkable 4th-century mosaic floor, gateway to the Italian segment.

Rome - The destination, with St. Peter's Basilica, the four major basilicas, and the catacombs of the early martyrs.