Walking Along the Shore
Walking along the shore is one of summer's greatest pleasures. The sea air, warm sunshine, soft sand, and gentle waves all combine to restore your body and soul.
A Piedi Per Il Mondo
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For those who love long walks immersed in nature, summer offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the sea. We often think of mountains as the ideal destination for hiking and trekking, but in reality, coastal areas offer numerous trails to discover and breathtaking landscapes to admire.
Without venturing far from home, beautiful Italy boasts magnificent coastlines that can deliver extraordinary emotions and sensations: the crystalline colours of waters embracing the islands, the fragrance of Mediterranean scrubland, the panoramic views from hills that protect the riviera. If you wish, in certain areas, such as the Ligurian and Tuscan coasts, it's possible to start at high altitude and reach the beaches in a single day.
This type of trek makes the adventure even more pleasurable because it allows you to change altitude and perspective in one journey, test yourself against different difficulty levels that challenge both physical strength and willpower, immerse yourself step by step along the boundary line between sky and earth, between steep cliffs and ancient salt routes, passing through villages that invite you to stop for a well-deserved rest at any hour. Furthermore, the mild climate and encounters with local residents, including elderly fishermen and seasoned sailors, guarantee a 360° travel experience.
However, you don't need to travel far from cities to breathe fresh air and enjoy forests and waterways. Within the Stockholm district alone, the most populated in the nation, you can find countless natural reserves inside the Riddarfjärden bay, the area where the city stands, also known as the "Venice of the North" because it's situated on water.
Sweden, like Norway, is set to become completely independent from fossil fuels within a few years thanks to continuous development at both structural and public awareness levels, believing strongly in the possibility and necessity of becoming autonomous and eco-sustainable—a theme deeply felt in Northern Europe.
Obviously, this country offers diverse opportunities for walking in close contact with nature, so let's explore the 5 best treks in Sweden.
The Sea and Its Benefits
Not to mention that once you reach your destination, you gain additional benefits alongside the joy of walking by the sea: the marine environment is indeed well-known to be favourable to our wellbeing.
Sea air, for example, has a powerful effect on respiration: being rich in mineral salts, it helps improve problems related to cough, asthma and allergies and strengthens immune defences. The sun, meanwhile, increases vitamin D production, which is fundamental for bone and skin health, while sand can be used as a natural scrub that aids cellular renewal of the epidermis.
Moreover, water, so precious and nourishing, stimulates the body, promoting toxin elimination, lowers blood pressure, is ideal against rheumatism and joint pain, or for those suffering from thyroid issues and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties as well.
Thanks to this combination, the sea becomes a great ally that can heal and deeply regenerate us.
Walking Along the Seashore, in the Water
For this reason, walking between the beach and the sea, and not just on trails for trekkers or pilgrims, can give us wonderful sensations and make us feel great.
In this case, the advice is to start walking on the sand first, then gradually advance with water at ankle height, until you reach thigh and waist depth: in this way you'll enjoy a natural massage capable of reactivating and improving circulation and, consequently, experience less swelling, a more toned body, and thanks to increased endorphins, improved mood too!
As I've recently shared, for those without particular joint problems, walking barefoot on the waterline also allows you to recover that sense of freedom we often suffocate in shoes and reconnect with the earth to recharge with positive energy; while being in deeper water has the advantage of reducing stress on joints whilst simultaneously strengthening your legs…in short, a true tonic for everyone!
Always listen to your body when exercising; it's your first teacher. Pay attention and choose the cooler hours of the day: morning and sunset light is the healthiest and transforms the beach into a scenario of intense colours, capable of delivering fantastic emotions.
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