Via Francigena - Omnes Viae Romam Perducunt - All roads lead to Rome

ITALY - SELF-GUIDED WALKING ALONG THE VIA FRANCIGENA

Daily departures on the ancient pilgrimage route from 1st April to 30th October each year along a series of eight linked one-week (8-day) walks from the Swiss Alps to Rome.

For centuries pilgrims have made their way on foot seeking spiritual solace at the three most holy of Christian cities; Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain and Rome in Italy.  Rome was the most important destination for Christian pilgrimage in Europe until the 10th Century, when the veneration of St James of Compostela and the Camino De Santiago began to Galicia, in Northern Spain.

The pilgrim's road to Rome, or Via Francigena is made from several routes which have changed over the centuries. As the number of pilgrims to Rome grew, abbeys, monasteries, cathedrals, churches and shrines were built to encourage and support them on their journey.

Today, you can experience the pathways of medieval travellers on a self-guided 'inn to inn' walking holiday.  Over many years Outdoor Travel have developed the support you need staying in pre-booked, simple hotels or agriturismo (farm or guest houses) with breakfast, walking route information and maps and with your baggage transferred safely each day to your next hotel.

We offer weekly easy to moderate walking sections from the Alps near the Swiss border down to the Cinque Terre coast, through Tuscany and across the Apennines to St Peters Square and the Vatican in Rome.

Share in the scale, the history and the joy of this great medieval pilgrimage, imagine the hardships, savour the pleasures and share the devotions of those early pilgrims. Follow paths and trails that link cities and villages, great cathedrals, churches and ancient monuments. Travel through high alpine meadows, across wooded valleys and fertile plains, climb coastal pathways, past vineyards, farmlands and across the Cretan landscape of Tuscany before reaching the magnificent city of Rome.

A BRIEF HISTORY: 

The road to Rome was known first as Iter Francorum then as Via Francigena. It was described for the first time in the Actum Clusio, a parchment kept in the Abbey of San Salvatore al Monte Amiata in 876. At the end of the 10th Century, Sigeric, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, travelled the Via Francigena to Rome to be blessed by the Pope and, on the return journey to Canterbury he made a detailed record of his route and his stops.

Sigeric's records helped us form much of the route taken today along with other medieval travellers' accounts by the Icelandic traveller Nikolas Bergsson (in 1154) and Philip Augustus of France (in 1191).

With the proclamation of the Holy Year in 1300, the Via Francigena was walked by thousands of wayfarers and pilgrims. However the concept of pilgrimage and the use of this road to Rome fell out of fashion around the 17th Century. By contrast the 'Way of Saint James' or 'Camino de Santiago' remained popular and is still a well-used pilgrimage route today.

Today the official Via Francigena closely retraces Sigeric's steps, pilgrims still come from all over Europe, from many different directions; many came from Spain, Switzerland, Holland and France as well as from Canterbury in England. Many pilgrims cross the Italian border in different places including the Grand San Bernard or Monginevro Passes and via Ventimiglia and Genoa along the coast route. Some arrived by sea, disembarking at the port of Luni south of Sarzana near the fabulous Cinque Terre and Tuscan coast.

In 1985 the Italian 'archaeologist of roads', Giovanni Caselli, retraced the itinerary described by Archbishop Sigeric.  In 1994 the Via Francigena - like the Camino de Santiago, was designated a European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe. The Via Francigena is only now starting to be discovered - it is still very much the road less travelled.

We recognise the demand to walk this route not just from pilgrims, but for those looking for an interesting walking or cycling holiday. Working closely with our partners in Italy, we have organised a network of clean and comfortable pre-booked accommodation and a system of daily baggage transfers which allows you the freedom to enjoy this ancient trail; to see the dramatic and ever changing scenery, to explore the historical and religious communities and to discover for yourself the spirituality and camaraderie open to all on the Via Francigena.

There is still not one clear official Via Francigena route.  In parts the original Via Francigena follows the ancient Roman roads: the Aurelia and the Cassia which are now mostly sealed and used as roads and highways. Where necessary we have found alternative paths and footpaths or trails (or quieter secondary roads when nothing else is available) and made it possible to include historical and artistic centres of interest along the route.

SELF-GUIDED INN-TO-INN WALKING

We start at the San Bernardo pass and have divided the itinerary into eight weekly sections all the way to Rome.  In each overnight stop, you will be able to have your credential (Pilgrims Passport) stamped as a record of your visit.  For those that wish it, we can also arrange a priest's benediction at designated starting points for those following a more spiritual journey.

For those who choose the full 950km journey it goes from Bourg St Pierre near Monginevro just across the Swiss border in the Alps, into Italy and on to Rome via Ivrea, Pavia, Fidenza, Aulla, San Miniato, San Quirico d'Orcia and Montefiascone. It offers ever-changing landscapes; from steep alpine meadows to the vineyards and 'creten' hills of Tuscany; from traditional villages bypassed by time to modern towns and urban centres, passing Roman ruins and Etruscan tombs.

Walks can start daily on demand from eight easy to reach starting points. We offer pre-booked accommodation & daily baggage transfers. We include comprehensive travel kit with the route notes, maps and a credential or for true pilgrims, a priest's benediction.

Self-guided tour cost includes:

* Self-guided Inn to Inn walking
* Daily baggage transfers from Inn to Inn
* 1, 2 or 3-star accommodation as shown
* Breakfasts each day as indicated


THE VIA FRANCIGENA - ONE TO EIGHT WEEKS FROM THE SWISS ALPS TO ROME

Flexibility is important on our self-guided walks. Departures are daily - as you need it - in season as long as the accommodation is available. You can do just one week; chose several weeks in a row or jump from one to the other skipping sections in between (transfers between sections will be at your own expense). 

Distances, walking times and elevations where shown are approximate:

Week 1: From Gran San Bernardo (Bourg St Pierre) - Pont St Martin
Spectacular alpine views crossing the Colle del San Bernardo and Valle d'Aosta from the Swiss border to Italy

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Departs: Daily mid-June to end of September (preferred start day Saturday)
Total distance: 115km (average 19km daily)
Highlights: Crossing the Alps, mountain views, Val d'Aosta villages, Nus, Fénis and Verrès castles

Day 1 - Arrive Bourg St Pierre (Altitude 1632m above sea level)
Day 2 - Bourg St Pierre - Colle Del San Bernardo 12km
Day 3 - Colle Del San Bernardo - Etroubles 13km
Day 4 - Etroubles - Aosta 16km
Day 5 - Aosta - Chambave 26km
Day 6 - Chambave - Verrès 28km
Day 7 - Verrès - Point St Martin 20km
Day 8 - Arrangements end after breakfast in Point St Martin

Week 2: Pont St Martin to Garlasco
Crossing northern Piedmont and to Lombardy, from the Alps to the Pavese plain. Towns rich in history, beautiful lake of Viverone and to the sanctuary of Madonna della Bozzola at Garlasco.

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Departs: Daily April to October (preferred start day Saturday)
Total distance: 144km (average 26km daily)
Highlights: Ivrea & Vércelli, the lake at Viverone, bell tower at Piverone

Day 1 - Arrive Pont St Martin (Altitude 345m above sea level)
Day 2 - Pont St Martin - Ivrea 27km
Day 3 - Ivrea - Viverone 23km
Day 4 - Viverone - Santhia 17km
Day 5 - Santhia - Vércelli 31km
Day 6 - Vércelli - Robbio 22km then train to Mortara
Day 7 - Mortara to Garlasco 24km
Day 8 - Arrangements end after breakfast

Week 3: Garlasco to Fidenza
This week we cross the vast plains that run first along the Ticino and then along the River Po walking between Lombardy and Emilia Romagna. This is mainly a rural area where the colours change with the seasons. It is a region rich in abbeys, churches and monasteries dating from medieval times, many in the Romanesque style. On some sections it is not possible to follow the Francigena Way so we choose a slightly different route away from the traffic.

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Departs: Daily April to October (preferred start day Saturday)
Total distance: 141km (average 24km each day)
Highlights: Historical cities; Pavia, Piacenza, the River Ticino, the Chiaravalle Abbey

Day 1 - Arrive at Garlasco (Altitude 93m above sea level)
Day 2 - Garlasco - Pavia 26km
Day 3 - Pavia - Miradolo Terme 28km then transfer to St Cristina Miradolo (included)
Day 4 - Miradolo Terme - Piacenza 30km
Day 5 - Piacenza - Carpaneto 23km
Day 6 - Carpaneto - Castel Arquato 14km
Day 7 - Castel Arquato - Fidenza 20km
Day 8 - Arrangements end after breakfast with a transfer to Fidenza railway station (included)

Week 4: Fidenza to Aulla
From the Padana Plains to Apennines and down towards the Tyrrhenian Sea and Tuscany

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Departs: Daily May to September (preferred start day Saturday)
Total distance: 122km (average 21km daily)
Highlights: Parma's Duomo and Battistero; the fort at Pontremoli, Cassio, Castellonchio, Berceto, Groppoli, Arzengio, San Caprasio Abbey, Cisa Pass, spectacular views of Emilia Plain

Day 1 - Arrive at Fidenza (Altitude 57m above sea level)
Day 2 - Fidenza - Fornovo 31km
Day 3 - Fornovo - Cassio 21km
Day 4 - Cassio - Berceto 11km
Day 5 - Berceto - Previde 14km
Day 6 - Previde - Pontremoli 22km
Day 7 - Pontremoli - Aulla 23km
Day 8 - Arrangements end after breakfast

Week 5: Aulla - San Miniato
After crossing the Apennino mountains we view the sea and leave the official route from Sarzana east through hills overlooking the Mediterranean through Massa, Camaiore and Lucca to the lovely village of San Miniato (the closest the route comes to Florence)

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights - departs daily from April to end of October
Total distance : 124-144km (average 24km daily)
Type of route: Trails, unpaved white roads, strada bianca & secondary asphalt roads
Highlights: The first glimpse of the sea, Sarzanello Fortress, Lucca & the Volto Santo, Altopascio Hospital San Miniato

Day 1 - Arrive Aulla (Altitude 100m above sea level)
Day 2 - Aulla - Sarzana 22km
Day 3 - Sarzana - Avenza 18km
Day 4 - Avenza - Camaiore 24km
Day 5 - Camaiore - Lucca 30km (option to catch a bus to Lucca after 17km)
Day 6 - Lucca - Altopascio (the route is through a heavily populated area so we suggest you stay longer in Lucca and catch a train - 15 minutes ride - to Altopascio)
Day 7 - Altopascio - San Miniato 30km
Day 8 - Arrangements end after breakfast

Week 6: San Miniato - San Quirico d'Orcia
Perhaps the richest week for art and history along the route. Take time firstly to visit nearby Florence then join the walk from the lovely village of San Miniato to San Quirico d'Orcia.

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights - from April to end of October
Total distance: 127km (average 22km each day)
Highlights: San Gimignano towers, Monteriggioni, Siena - St Antimo Abbey, the Etruscan museum, San Quirico Collegiata, Murlo

Day 1 - Arrive San Miniato (Altitude 195m above sea level)
Day 2 - San Miniato - Gambassi Terme 24km
Day 3 - Gambassi Terme - San Gimignano 14km
Day 4 - San Gimignano - Strove 24km
Day 5 - Strove - Siena 23km
Day 6 - Siena - Buonconvento 18km
Day 7 - Buonconvento - San Quirico d,Orcia 24km
Day 8 - Arrangements end after breakfast

Week 7: San Quirico - Montefiascone
The official Via Francigena follow the ancient Roman roads.  Paved parts of it are still fine to walk, however parts are too dangerous or carry too much traffic so we decided to re-route the slightly longer but much more attractive path to St Antimo. We return to the route in Radicofani, to Acquapendente and finally Bolsena and the lake at Montefiascone

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Total distances: 133km (average 22km per day)
Highlights: The Collegiata in San Quirico, the creten landscape, San Salvatore Abbey.

Day 1 - Arrive San Quirico (Altitude 409m above sea level)
Day 2 - San Quirico - St Antimo Castelnuovo dell’abbate 14km
Day 3 - Castelnuovo - Rocco d'Orcia 19km
Day 4 - Rocca d'Orcia - Radicofani 28km
Day 5 - Radicofani - Proceno Castle 25km
Day 6 - Proceno Castle - Bolsena 30km (optional transfer to Acquapendente at extra cost)
Day 7 - Bolsena - Montefiascone 17Km
Day 8 – Arrangements end after breakfast

Week 8: Montefiacone - Roma
The last section of the Via Francigena offers excellent views along the volcanic lakes of Vico and Bracciano, and steaming pools of thermal water near Viterbo. We pass the lovely town of Nepi along a pleasant mountain route to reach the outskirts of Rome.

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights -from April to end of October
Total distance: 125km (average 21km daily)
Highlights: The Bolsena and Vico lakes, Cimini Mountains, Rome

Day 1 - Arrive Montefiascone (Altitude 640m above sea level)
Day 2 - Montefiascone – Viterbo 18km
Day 3 - Viterbo - Capraola 18km
Day 4 - Capraola - Sutri 16km
Day 5 - Sutri - Campagnano di Roma 27km
Day 6 - Campagnano di Roma - La Storta (Isola Farnese) 21km
Day 7 - Isola Farnese (La Storta) - Rome (San Pietro) 25km*
Day 8 - Arrangements end after breakfast in Rome

* Today the arrival into Rome is through two large parks (Insugherata and Mount Mario) with just a few sections on city streets.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME ALONG THE VIA FRANCIGENA


Other walking holidays from Outdoor Travel: guided in small groups or self-guided with inn-to-inn luggage transfers and meals are available in many parts of Europe.

These walks include pilgrimage routes in France & Spain such as the Camino de Santiago or Way of St James from Le Puy to Santiago, the Camino Primitivo across Northern Spain or the walk to the Finisterre coast from Santiago, the Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago and St Cuthbert's Way from Scotland into England.

We offer literary routes such as Wainwright's Coast to Coast Way in England, 'far from the maddening crowd' on the Dorset - Wessex Trail or Stevenson's Trail 'travels with a donkey' in the wild Cevennes in central France. We also offer exceptional scenes and dramatic landscapes including walking trails in the footsteps of famous painters such as Van Gogh's Trail in Provence, in fact something for everyone in almost every corner of Europe.

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