Nearly 400km in length, and ranging between 400m and 2000m above sea level, the exhilarating Great Apennines Trek (GEA) spends just over three weeks criss-crossing the central-north section of the range, following routes established by long-gone invaders and traders, and trodden by pilgrims and shepherds since time immemorial. Dipping in and out of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, the trek makes its way northwest up Italy traversing two national parks dotted with pretty lakes.