“Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” certified in 2025

The Romea Strata is a network of historic routes that once guided travellers from Northeastern and Central Europe to Rome. Crossing several countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechia, Austria and Italy – it connects the Baltic Sea to the heart of Italy through centuries-old paths. 

For generations, these routes were travelled by merchants, pilgrims, diplomats and soldiers, enabling cultural exchange and shaping a shared European identity. Today, the Romea Strata invites modern-day walkers to follow in their footsteps, fostering cross-border dialogue and renewed appreciation for a common heritage. 

Heritage

The Romea Strata retraces historic trade and pilgrimage routes that shaped Europe’s cultural landscape for centuries. Originally used for commerce, these roads later guided pilgrims to Rome – and beyond, to Santiago de Compostela and Jerusalem – weaving together regions through movement, encounter and exchange. 

Firsthand accounts offer a vivid picture of this living history. In 1575, Jurgis Radvilas, a nobleman from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, recorded his journey to Rome in detail, passing through towns still found along the route today. His diary reflects the rich diversity of languages, beliefs and customs that travellers experienced as they crossed borders on foot. 

Today, the Romea Strata reconnects these historic threads, linking sacred sites, cultural landmarks, and lesser-known rural communities. It invites travellers to explore Europe’s past as a landscape of shared stories where religious heritage, local traditions and human encounters shape the European present. 

Travelling today

The Romea Strata offers walkers and cyclists a unique way to experience Europe’s natural and cultural diversity. The route winds through forests, plains, hills and villages, revealing lesser-known towns, local traditions and heritage sites that rarely feature on tourist maps. 

Promoting sustainable, low-impact tourism, the route encourages a slower, more mindful approach to travel. Cultural events, school programmes and partnerships with municipalities bring local communities into the heart of the project, ensuring that the Romea Strata remains a living route, shaped by those who live along it.