Man celebrates 80th birthday walking Italy top to bottom
(ANSA) – Ispica, October 24 – When Alessandro Belliere turned 80 he refused to have a party but decided instead to celebrate by walking Italy from North to South. Belliere, who lives in the central city of Bologna, started his celebratory tour on September 10 from Predoi in the northern Alto Adige region and arrived Thursday in Sicily’s Ispica, near Ragusa – one of Italy’s southernmost towns – where he celebrated his birthday.
He walked 1,759 km in a month and 14 days at an average rate of 40km a day and rested only for two days.
”I was supposed to rest for three days but when I learned during my trip that the most southern town in Italy was not Ispica but Portopalo di Capo Passero I decided to forego the third day and went to Portopalo as well so I would not betray my trip’s idea,” he said.
Belliere filmed his travels and posted the video on his blog.
The 80-year-old will travel back to Bologna later on Thursday to celebrate again at home with friends and family.
photo: Alessandro Belliere with Ispica Mayor Piero Rustico (right)