Born to divide, today these walls that have survived centuries of history and many battles are perfect for splendid walks in some of the most picturesque places on the planet.
Bastions of Essaouira © Photograph by Fabrizio Del Dotto
1. Berlin Wall, Germany
Until 1989 it was strictly 'verboten', forbidden. Of the 160 km that once made up the Berlin Wall not much remains, except for a few shreds around the city. However, the Wall has not been removed from the imagination and it is possible to retrace its path by following a well-marked route, on foot or by bicycle. The Wall Trail is divided into 14 sections, ranging from 7 to 21 km in length and each section is well served by public transport.
2. Hadrian's Wall, England
Those who have read Yourcenar's Memoirs of Hadrian are in no doubt about the emperor's passion for Ellas. Not everyone, however, is aware of his mistrust of the Scots: it was to stem the incursions of these people that, starting in AD 122, Hadrian ordered the construction of the defensive wall that still bears his name from Wallsend (on the River Tyne) to the coast of the Solway Firth. The 140 km National Trail follows the route of the Wall: if you stop for a moment, you can hear the footsteps of the centurions. The finish/departure point, the Roman fort of Segedunum, is a 10-minute metro ride from Newcastle.
3. Great Wall, China
It is almost impossible to walk the entire Great Wall: not only because it stretches about 5000 km, but mainly because its route is very fragmented, the result of extensions under numerous dynasties. A classic route goes from the wild west of Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan on the Bohai Sea - 4000 epic kilometres across mountains, steppes and desert. Much more affordable is the one-day tour from Beijing: the 11 kilometres from Jinshanling to Simatai offer excitement and beautiful views without too much effort.
4. Cartagena, Colombia
Walking along the 16th-century fortifications that encircle old Cartagena is the best way to enjoy this UNESCO World Heritage city. The place deserves to be protected, even if it is no longer a strategic post of the Kingdom of Spain, for its extraordinary beauty. The walk along the walls is not long - it takes about 90 minutes - but it is full of charm. Set off from the Balaurte de San Francisco Javier at sunset to admire the reflections of the sun on the Caribbean Sea.
5. Ávila, Spain
If you arrive by train from not far from Madrid, you'll feel like a fine sandcastle has been built on the highlands of Castilla y Léon. Around Ávila, in fact, there are walls 2.5 km long, 12 m high and 3 m wide. 88 towers and nine gates give the whole thing a fairytale aura. It is the best-preserved medieval city wall in the world and can largely be traversed on foot. Remember, however, that the best overview is obtained from a distance.
6. Offa's Dyke, Wales
You may call it Offa's Dyke, but you will probably be no less familiar with it. It was built by Offa, the King of Mercia who ruled over part of England in the 8th century AD, and served to mark the boundary between his kingdom and that of the princes of Wales. The Offa's Dyke National Trail follows what remains of this ancient 'wall' and runs 285 km from Sedbury Cliffs to Prestatyn, through the Black Mountains, in an area that still has a last frontier feel. To complete the entire route budget 12 days.
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7. Essaouira, Morocco
The ramparts that defend the city of Essaouira on Morocco's Atlantic coast are not the longest in the world, nor the most imposing, but they have an ineffable charm. In 1949, the great Orson Welles came here to film the opening sequences of his Othello. Indeed, there is something dramatic about these parts: built in the 18th century by Sultan Mohammed III, the walls seem to loom over the sea. Walk along the parapet for a privileged glimpse of the teeming life in the Medina. The city is a two-and-a-half-hour bus ride from Marrakech and six hours from Casablanca.
8. Ville de Québec, Canada
It is not often that one encounters centuries-old architecture here in the New World. This makes the 17th-century walls of Ville de Québec all the more remarkable. The capital of French-speaking Canada retains a certain French flair, and not only in the Chips one encounters everywhere. France can also be found in the style of those walls, built according to the dictates made famous by the great lily engineers. The whole thing is 4.6 km long, dotted with gates and towers. It's really nice to climb up there to look out over the San Lorenzo River and to get a peek into the city's daily life... modern day life, that is. Parks Canada organises 90-minute guided tours.
9. Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Australia
Australia is a long way from the Holy Land, but its early European settlers had a distinctly biblical sense when they named places in remote Tasmania after it: here are Herod's Gate, the Pool of Bethesda, Solomon's Jewels and even the Walls of Jerusalem. These 'walls' are actually forest-clad hills, reaching a maximum altitude of 1509 metres with David's Peak - as it happens. There are no roads, so trekking through the bush is the only way to get around. Follow the route from Lake Rowallan to Dixons Kingdom and climb to Mt Jerusalem for splendid views of this Eden of the antipodes.
10. Aurelian Walls, Rome
In 270 A.D. the Emperor Aurelian began to be decidedly concerned. With barbarians on his northern borders, he decided to protect Rome with a brick barrier. And he built it quickly: in just five years, walls 19 km long, 6.5 metres high, with 381 towers and 18 gates were erected. Even today, this prodigious construction arouses wonder: one of the most impressive sections is located near Porta San Sebastiano, where the parapet can be walked. The Museum of the Walls, on Via di Porta San Sebastiano, is housed inside the gate.
