On 25 April 1431 Pietro Querini, a Venetian patrician, sailed from Candia (Crete) to Flanders on the Querina carrack. Querini and his crew were surprised by storms that pushed them off their route, and they eventually landed in the Lofoten archipelago of Norway, beyond the Arctic Circle. The survivors were rescued by fishermen from the island of Røst, where they were welcomed and hosted for several months. Via Querinissima retraces the adventure of Querini, who, by connecting the Mediterranean Basin and the Arctic Sea, defined a new geography of the continent and offered a snapshot of Europe and Europeans at his time.  

Heritage

Querini's journey helped to forge links between different and distant European regions, providing a precious testimony about the cultural heritage of the countries he visited, composed of traditions, customs and knowledge. From navigation and maritime techniques to the history of trade, from enogastronomic mutual influences to the importance of pilgrimages, Via Querinissima today highlights how European common heritage is the product of human exchanges and discoveries. In an era of globalisation, Via Querinissima highlights the unique characteristics of each territory and at the very same time the underlying similarities , helping inhabitants and travellers understand this complex shared legacy. 

Travelling today

From Crete to Cadiz, from Lisbon and Muros Noia to Lofoten, exploring Norway and Sweden along seas and lakes, rediscovering the path to Venice, the journey along Via Querinissima offers an accessible and sustainable travel experience, combining famous destinations and lesser-known regions. By sea and land, travellers are invited to discover local traditions, cultural and natural heritage, landscapes, and languages that are deeply different from one region to the next, spanning from the Mediterranean coasts to the Arctic islands.