Cities for Better Health in Rome conducted a three-year mapping project, examining the impact of urbanisation on type 2 diabetes in the metropolitan area of Italy's largest city. The data gathered during this process was used to develop the Rome Cities for Better Health Atlas, which provides information about the prevalence of diabetes and contains information relating to health-promoting policies, urban planning and community health.  

Walking through Rome

The data from the mapping project revealed that 40% of Rome residents consider themselves physically inactive³. To address this, the city collaborated with its partners to create 74 walking routes that cover approximately 460km in Rome's metropolitan area.

The walking routes, which roughly 100,000 people use, allow residents to engage in accessible physical activity for free. Special measures have been taken to ensure that people living with diabetes are encouraged to make use of these walking routes. Several other cities in Italy have already been inspired to replicate this simple but effective intervention. Designed by Olympic gold medallist Maurizio Damilano, the routes cover urban, tourist, environmental and athletic itineraries. The information is accessible via a smartphone application that allows users to track how far they have walked and interacted with other users.

Educating city managers for better health

Changing the health of urban communities requires health at the centre of policy decision-making. A credible route to acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to create health-centred policies was missing in Rome, leading Cities for Better Health to work with the Health City Institute to create the Health City Manager curriculum.

Offered at Roma Sapienza University, the course provides students with the competencies and knowledge to manage city health effectively. The graduates of this course can work with authorities responsible for public health to ensure that health promotion and disease prevention are considered when policies are made.

"Within the European Cities for Better Health programme, Rome was the first city to present a passport with urban and tourist itineraries to visit specific areas by walking through the city. Walking is healthy, and this administration is proud of contributing to making Rome the first walkable city by developing 74 itineraries which cover a total of 460km of wellbeing by encouraging exercise and healthy activities."

— Angelo Diario, Chair of Rome City Council's Committee for Sports, Wellness, and Quality of Life 

Download Rome action case Walking Route

Download Rome action case Health City Manager

Download Rome Urban Diabetes Declaration