traversata

Traversata is an Italian noun meaning the act of crossing or traversing a distance, barrier, or landscape. Derived from traversare, it denotes a route or journey that moves from one side to the other. The term is used in geographic, athletic, and cultural contexts and can describe a single crossing or a longer itinerary.

In Italian, traversata is primarily a feminine noun, with plural traversate. In mountaineering and outdoor contexts it often names a specific crossing, such as una traversata delle Dolomiti; in maritime and swimming contexts it refers to a crossing of a body of water, for example una traversata a nuoto.

In travel writing and event organization, traversata may appear in descriptions of long-distance routes or challenge events, where participants complete a designated crossing within a set time. The word also appears in historical or literary uses to describe journeys that cut across a region rather than following a single straight path.

Related terms include attraversamento (crossing or transit) and passaggio; traversata shares semantic ground with traverse and crossing in other languages. The term is commonly used in Italian media, hiking guides, and sports literature to convey the idea of moving across a barrier rather than along its edge.