In terms of the varied landscapes and changing terrain along the way. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It can ruin large parts of the journey. Hi Sue, good on you coming back to carry on chipping away at the VF! I have about 2 Months of walking and am hoping on covering 20 miles or so a day. Because there is no special menu, you will either have to buy groceries at the supermarket and cook for yourself or eat outside in restaurants. We took a tent, thermarests, sleeping bags, little stove and two plates. There will be days when you will not meet any pilgrim at all. The latest you would be able to get up on over the Alps pass would be late October, so if you can manage that, go for it. There are countless reasons for walking the Via Francigena. We found a mix of normal clothes and active-wear worked quite well, and NO walking clothes were needed. Luke & Nell. As youre reading this, youre probably already interested in walking the Via Francigena, the 2,000km pilgrimage trail from Canterbury, UK, to Rome, Italy. We dont think it will be a problem walking alone. We did indeed pack a small camera but only one. I thought maybe to walk the Camino del Norte or Camino Portuguese. People always want to know what and how we packed. It will be easier for you to communicate with the locals. So we have put together our own Via Francigena guide, up-to-date for 2017, and updated every year since then (most recently, 2020). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I will update subscribers when completed, so subscribe to hear when its done Ive hiked the AT, the Camino and various other long and short distance trails. This puts us off a bit but we would dearly love to get to a view point where we can stand and gaze at the capital. Isnt generally advised. You can expect though lots of countryside walking, passing through villages, towns or a city every day. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. A local SIM can be purchased in Italy, which is much cheaper than in Switzerland. Now looking for our next challenge. Did you walk the 2 months on the trail? Thanks What worries me most is not having a paper map! I wonder if the new guide will be out soon??? Have you walked the VF? Open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between the hours of 7:30 and 18:00. I am so excited, it is hard to keep it quiet. A 30,000km road to a lost world A perilous walkway fit for kings The saying 'all roads lead to Rome' has become a quaint and somewhat clichd turn-of-phrase these days. Nowadays a lot of the guidebook publishers provide GPX as part of your purchase (like Cicerone, for example). thank you so much. Via Francigena: A Beginner Guide For A Pilgrimage To Rome Required fields are marked *. It is difficult to describe the suffering of those who after a day or two got blisters. When to Go - Camino Guidebooks - Village to Village Guides Make room for the oiliest most delicious focaccia in the world, We have a bit of working Italian (hence the Italian guidebook recommendation) but very little French, and as we thought, theres not much English is spoken in rural parts. // The via Francigena is not crowded at all. How often this happens depends on the route you take, and is worth considering when you think road walking is the easier option. Luke. These signs indicate the direction of the route and are generally positioned in areas where motorized vehicles can circulate. Enjoy world-famous Italian art, history, culture, and cuisine in rural villages and major cities alike. Everest Base Camp very impressive! UTracks | The Best Pilgrimage Walks: Via Francigena vs the Camino I recommend getting up there for a walk and view. That pass is open from June-October and officially closed during the winter months for safety reasons. // Another thing you should know is the dogs in Italy. This worked well: we hit the Alps in July which is the perfect time. Youll be fine with little Italian. I will be carrying a tent and cooking gear with me, but will not have a phone. When you walk an average of 25 kilometers a day for 1100km, it is not a simple thing. In France you will have to plan carefully because there are fewer places than in Switzerland and Italy (the latter having the most pilgrim friendly stays). 10 / Enjoy - Dont forget to enjoy yourself on your journey! Any Via Francigena guide wouldnt be complete without mentioning the route. The Via Francigena Trail. In some churches and monasteries, you will not have to pay (it will be by donation), and in some, you will probably have to pay 15 euros. It is incredibly warm in July-August in Italy, so the best time to walk is April - June and then September. Similar to the Camino de Santiago, and although this route is way different, it is undoubtedly an experience that I will take with me for life. A Testimonium is a document confirming the completion of a pilgrimage to Rome. The disadvantage in Switzerland is that there are almost no budget places for pilgrims like in Italy. We wish you well in your walk this summer. If you haven't heard this name, you can discover in this blog all about the pilgrimage to Rome. So, four months it is! It weighed just under 2.5kg without any moisture. Your email address will not be published. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Through France we camped a lot and our average daily spend was closer to 40 euros per day, which helped with Italy where theres less camping available. Looking for the best time to walk the Via Francigena? Interested you liked Lightfoot, think might get those as well. . The certificate is only given to pilgrims who present a certificate showing stamps of at least the last 100 km. You can purchase the pilgrims' passport for a nominal amount in advance through the official website or probably at the place where you will start walking. Thank you for very helpful concise info. This means you can usually have breaks on the way, pick up food, stuff like that. Our Via Francigena highlights | the 6 best bits - What if we walked? You can rest your body and explore beautiful places along the way. We wrote about each stage as we did it: you can find and read all 15 of our Via Francigena stages here. Although I met another pilgrim and we traveled together for several days. Having dinner with all the pilgrims and more. A network of roads led to Rome from France, Germany, and England. Dinner - Eating in the restaurant is the main entertainment and combines several dishes, including wine, dessert, and coffee. I have done the Camino Norte and Portuguese (from Lisbon) this year and have started thinking of the VF for next year. We got stamps everyday on the Via Francigena, from all kinds of places: pilgrim accommodation, campsites, the odd Mairie (French town halls), shops, churches. For more information about cycling or walking the Via Francigena, the Camino to Rome, or to book your trip, contact our travel specialists. I searched a lot about those who did it in the past. Thank you so much for sharing! Some of the places to stay for pilgrims close on October 31st and it makes sense because there are a few pilgrims. I found myself in some days walking an entire day without meeting a single pilgrim. My husband and, I 65 and 68, are seasoned walkers we have walked the Portuguese and Francis in 2015, 2016, and are planning Canterbury to Switzerland this August. For example, Cicerone suggests taking canal route out of Calais, all others say to go to Wissant?? We highly recommend you get up and over the Alps because it is such a highlight of the entire journey! Were going to get round to publishing a list of where we stayed for the entire trip keep an eye out for that! Through France and Switzerland there are many sites right on the path. The Italians want to know that you are coming so they will be ready for you. From the Alps down to Rome? Luke. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. After I walked the Camino de Santiago (Camino Frances) last year. When you get to Lucca and Tuscany, you start to see a few more pilgrims. The road is around 2,000 kilometres long and one afternoon, I decided to walk the 20km stretch from Monteriggioni to Siena in Tuscany. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Or from near Turin/Milan? Tuscany (from Luccafrom Siena)is one of the favourite sections of the Via Francigena but Spring andAutumn months are better if you want to avoid the Summer heat of July and August (*If youd like to catch the famous Palio di Siena, you will have to travel in July or August however). On the way from Canterbury to Rome, there were 80 stops, and the pilgrim stayed mainly in monasteries along the way. We think we brought about 4 changes of clothes which is too many really, but made us feel more civilised. Summer (July and August) is also the best time to walk the Via Francigena from Lausanne to Aosta, across the Alps , as the St Bernard's Pass will have snow most part of the year. I hope this guide to the Via Francigena has helped and inspired you to walk this way or at least know more about the experience of pilgrimage to Rome. Oh God, we ate everything. Almost a year late! Are you looking for a night by night list? Thank you for the lovely account of your walk! Thank you for so much knowledgeable information. But only recorded the return journey. Hmm, not sure. 3 / A local sim is very useful. You can choose a certain stage to walk in. Funnily enough for Via Francigena guide authors, we are actually pretty bad at packing or we were, at least. I think youll really enjoy the (tiny) English and French sections. We camped when we could. I put you both as an advantage and as a disadvantage. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Via Francigena Walking Holidays | Trek Addict Especially from Lausanne to Lucca. The . Thanks so much! Hi Luke and Nell your website was always great, but I love the reboot! Certainly better than the French section! Anywayhere it is again A friend did the VF with no map or guide and suggested I do the same. We walked through August and the key is to get up early and be walking by between 5 and 6am. Hi Luke and Nell, But actually we found it a not-that-bad uphill, with some breath-taking moments and sights. It's not a race or a competition. Your Insta has inspired me to make the Farrow Islands a future destination. Clothing - basically for hiking in the summer, it will be warm. I walked the Camino Frances solo in 2018 and am looking at this one next. Just go in and ask. Youll find a lot of other pilgrims do this. hello thank you for all the great info. I hope it will help you plan this route in the best way. It stretches over 1900 km and four European countries. Looking forward to hear your recommendations, Hi there, so sorry for the lack of reply. After that, you can choose a first course, main course, and dessert and finish the meal with Italian coffee. Reims and Champagne Country: France Distance: 26km from Reims to Trpail S l o w time: 2 days Best for: Champagne, Champagne culture, Champagne landscapes WHAT is not to love about wandering through the lush manicured vineyards and narrow stone villages of the Champagne region? Your blog has reassured me. Most of the locals, at least up to the part of Tuscany, do not really know and are aware of this way and will not understand who the crazy person is who walks all the way to Rome on foot. While most of the sections will be suitable to walk in the Winter (apart from the mountain regions) it will be a more solitary experience and some hotels and guest houses particularly in rural areas might be close so additional transfers might be needed (always check with our team). The communication with the pilgrims looking for a place to stay is something they need to streamline to make it easier for travelers. Via Francigena: a Slow Travel Adventure in Tuscany Sorry for delay James, hope you had a great walk! Best walks in Tuscany: Monteriggioni to Siena on Via Francigena Picking up a few phrases will definitely help you though (Pelerin/pelligrino being key!). Eventually we got to a smart polished desk where some unidentified person inspected our dog-eared credentials, stamped them for the final time, and wrote out certificates for us. If you have any other questions re Via Francigena just let us know. With travel insurance, you can walk with peace of mind. We havent been using the blog, as Im sure you gathered. The most important thing is not to speed up your body and not overload you. It was a beautiful, hard, long and inspiring journey, one that we know lots of people are interested in and have questions about. Ive subscribed on Insta and email and I would greatly enjoy reviewing your GPX/KML files. The official way starts from Canterbury England and ends in Rome. The weight becomes significant, so don't take more than you need because you will have to carry it. There were lots about, mostly behind gates, or entirely uninterested. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. By and large, the Via Francigena takes a safe path through all four countries. If you have time, experience a silent walk through the Romanesque crypt located beneath the Basilica del Santo Sepolcro. Like the Camino de Santiago, the Via Francigena was a holy medieval pilgrimage road to Rome. Walk of the Week: The Via Francigena - Macs Adventure A bed in a shared room in a hostel (only in big cities) will cost you 50-60 euros per night per person. Pleasure Anastasia! With the Via Francigena too, if you get yourself a pilgrim passport you are granted pilgrim status, so have various places along the route that cost less to stay in. Interested that Lightfoot is also online. If you walked the Camino de Santiago in the past, whether it's the Camino del Norte, the Portuguese, or the Camino Frances. (I will publish a detailed post soon with my full packing list for the via Francigena). These days, most pilgrims arriving into Rome tend to get their certificates from the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi. You also have an option to 'split' the longest walking days in two in certain sections, taking you . Any other questions, please let us know, Malaysia: Mt Kinabalu (including the Via Feratta) If you have any questions please do get in touch. In fact, different guidebooks/tourism boards/maps send you down different paths entirely, all of which join back up periodically, particularly in France. You can do this in hostels, restaurants, and other places that offer a stamp. Unfortunately we havent been able to return to Nepal. In some cases, when you call the accommodations adapted to pilgrims, many times they don't answer the phone, or when I sent an email, there is no response. We have read , here and there, about having to walk along busy roads, particularly on the final stretch from Isola Farnese/ La Storta. The Via Francigena walking tour from Orvieto to Rome Tour is a unique opportunity to walk and trek across an ancient pilgrim trail through the awe-inspiring landscape and historic villages before arriving in Rome, one of Italy's most popular destinations. There were days when I didn't meet anyone during the day, and I was often the only person in Ostello at night. Italian-style breakfast which is coffee and a croissant or a small sandwich for about 3 euros. But dont let a lack of language proficiency put you off you will definitely be able to muddle through without any. Cicerone guides I have bought, they seem very wordy. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me down below in the comments, and I will be happy to answer! Yes, you will meet pilgrims from different countries. Any questions let us know, As mentioned, the via Francigena is not very famous. Were both fit and have done many walks through Asia, including the trek to Everest Base Camp, but never with a baby before. The number of kilometers per day doesn't matter to anyone. Hi David and Ena, thanks for getting in touch! We had very hot weather throughout the trip, including up at the pass, and in mid-September in Italy. As mentioned, I can only refer to Italy and Switzerland. Any advice? Distance 122 km / 76 miles Trip Style Self Guided Availability March - October Price From $1,102 Request a Quote Request a Quote Itinerary Services Accommodation Map Travel & Transfers FAQs Overview The final stage of the Via Francgena takes you from the tip of the village of Montefiascone to Rome, the eternal city. Around 990, Archbishop Sigeric walked from Canterbury to Rome. You will pass through so many small local towns without any tourists with a unique charm. You need to be moderately fit no more. You need to call a day in advance to make sure you have a bed and someone to give you access to it. 70 gigabytes of Data and unlimited local calls. The pilgrimage was a rite of passage, an act of social unity, and a personal process of repentance and atonement for sins. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Thanks for sharing. She adores Santiago, where she studied Journalism at Santiago de Compostela University. Via Francigena Pilgrimage from Viterbo to Rome | 10Adventures Some have combined the pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem. Hope this helps. In Italy, the trains are very efficient and reach many towns where you can start walking. Those looking for a social experience like the Camino de Santiago should be aware of this fact. After crossing the English Channel, he traveled 20 km every day. It isnt a great walk on the whole into the city. Due to unprecedented demand, the Via Francigena has limited remaining availability for this year. to me. I read a review of the way online and the biggest complaint was that the markers were few and far between, which made it easy to get lost. Buying groceries - in every town, you can stock up on groceries for sandwiches or ingredients to prepare a cooked meal if you want to cook and not eat out. Dried fruit, nut and fresh bread were all easy to come by and to eat en-route. Those who start the route in Lausanne have a total of one week until they move to Italy, so in my opinion, it is more important to know Italian. Im so inspired by your detailed and passionate review. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. That made me fall in love with Italy. Hi Luke and Nell. Aosta Valley and, of course, the wonderful Tuscany. One would prefer to eat out every day in restaurants, and the other would buy groceries and cook whatever would lower the costs. Experience a 7-day self-guided pilgrimage on Italy's Via Francigena route. It depends on where you start walking and how long you intend to walk. Thanks for any info that you can pass on. Luke. In any case, you don't have to walk 25 kilometers every day. Miss wearing them just typing this. However, any person of average fitness can walk this way. The Via Francigena is an ancient road to Rome, passing through England, France Switzerland and finally Italy. We have done most walks in UK and the Camino. So there are hours and hours of wandering down little roads, or through scrubby fields with nobody else in sight. Historically this document was important because when a pilgrim returned home he could prove that the pilgrimage had taken place. Thanks for your blog its very good Also, it is highly recommended to be equipped with some basic Italian phrases when communicating with the hosts. But time is a concern so i was wondering if its possible to cut out some of the way to be able to fot it in 40 days. Some people say that you only get it if you walk religiously. 9 / Be prepared for loneliness. The way is marked well in Italy, some places can be tricky, but we were impressed. If you are traveling on a budget, you can buy vegetables, eggs, and pasta and cook dinner. It is incredibly warm in July-August in Italy, so the best time to walk is April - June and then September. Youll go on the walking route a lot of the time this way. In addition, you can find antipasti, which is an appetizer for the meal, usually a Caprese salad and some vegetables. Im planning on doing some of the route through Italy. And if you read about our Alps experience youll know we were a bit worried about hiking up over them. Yep, we walked them to death. Interested in camping theme in France. We kept to 50 euros per day for four months between the two of us. It is rumoured that stones bathed in the blood of Christ have been kept . Sorry again for the delay. We could cook basic things when we camped, and bakeries became our haunt of choice for food on the go. Does this make any sense ? Started planning now for VF, having been reading about it on internet. Feel your body and move slowly at your own pace. We have a pilgrim passport which is actually a document that you will sign along the way. Many pilgrims walk one or two weeks per year, completing an entire route over the course of several years. Which Camino Will You Choose? If you have a few days, whether it's 4 days, a week, or a month. Hola Pelerins!! Learn how your comment data is processed. You can email most places you want to stay and use google translate, plus also youll find people speak at least a little English so itll be fine. We wonder if language was a problem? Youll be fine on $50 per day for the both of you if you dont splurge on meals out and alcohol. This is not a touristy trip to Italy. Pleasure to share Cindy. It is a 1,700 km long route, divided into stages, which can be covered on foot, by bicycle or by car. Hi Luke As you're reading this, you're probably already interested in walking the Via Francigena, the 2,000km pilgrimage trail from Canterbury, UK, to Rome, Italy. The Pilgrim menu doesn't really exist except maybe in a small town or two. Let's discover more about the Via Francigena stages and how long this itinerary is. Orders such as the Hospitallers Templars helped them, and the authorities treated the pilgrimage phenomenon as an important part of the social fabric and Christian life. We also will not be camping and assume that there are places to stay all along the route. You should know that there is a lot of walking on asphalt or sometimes near a highway and also in urban areas, especially when leaving and entering big cities. Its a fabulous stretch. The first course is usually pasta in a variety of sauces and toppings. Cycling the Via Francigena? We want to return to Asia and explore more solely on foot. It is known to all, Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Experience the natural beauty of Veio Natural Park and the Lazio countryside. Exactly where we stayed? The Via Francigena, or Camino to Rome, is a 1900km-long pilgrimage route crossing most of Europe from the UK to Italy, therefore weather will vary greatly from North to South throughout the year. 6 / When you walk on roads, walk facing traffic but watch behind for cars passing other cars. Along with a small laptop though (with chargers) it still totted up to a couple of kgs ouch. There are many amazing places to see in Montefiascone. . You should know words that will at least allow you to book rooms by phone, and maybe to have conversations with locals and enhance your experience on the trip. Got us through! Visit well-preserved medieval towns such as Sutri, Vetralla, and Formello. Luke, Hi Luke Karl, Hi Karl, they all seem to be split into sections to make more cash! There are certainly places along the route. She also loves travel, food, books, and arty and crafty. And last but not least, were majority of the places you stayed when not camping donativos/hostels? I don't think I need to explain too much about Italy and pizza, it's obvious. Ive been doing a good bit of research and that definitely seems to be correct. Backpack - the second most important thing is your backpack. Bed and breakfasts can be found in the larger towns and villages along the Via Francigena. Camino Frances from St Jean de Port to Pamplona: summer is one of the best times to walk in the Pyrenees. Luke & Nell, Thanks, Luke. Luke & Nell, Really helpful comments and advice. Its too long for most dogs, plus you do come across other dogs from time to time. The document is different from the Compostela that you get and is more generic. Tricky. Thanks for your help. Hi Kevin, thank you for the message! It doesn't matter if you sleep in a monastery or a hotel. To pick one, it really does depend on what you want to get out of walking. If you want to wild camp, thats up to you, but it is frowned upon in Italy, unlike in France or Switzerland. By chance, in a short stroll on the Internet, I found the Via Francigena. Sept to Dec would be the ideal time for us to do the walk; do you think this would be ok? The modern route has found pleasant walking paths that closely shadow the historic Roman roads of the original route and, when linked together, make a feasible and enjoyable walk. Just a quick Thank You for writing all of the above. Any other questions, just let us know. Your guide has bolstered my resolve, Thanks will keep dipping into your site bfor advice and inspiration. Doing it her way would be a stretch for me but it might be just what I need. It is estimated between 2,000 and 3,000 people walk or cycle sections of the Via Francigena each year (compared to the over 200,000 receiving Compostela certificates in Santiago in 2014). Dinner can cost around 20-25 euros per person, light lunch or pizza around 10 euros. We stayed in Airbnb when in cities, because we had a kitchen to use then. Allie, Hi Allie, on the contrary they ran a size larger! Thank you so much for your time and great tips! Especially on the via Francigena because there is the crossing of Saint Bernard pass in the Alps. They say the best things happen outside your comfort zone. The main routes of pilgrimage to Rome were from Northern Europe. A day or two before is enough. I have just completed the Camino Frances, St Jean to Santiago, on my own at 63, the first time I have ever done anything like this. This is the recommended time to cross the Saint Bernard Pass, so you should orient yourself to cross the pass between these times of the year. Glad you found us and got to look back on your journey As for your next challenge, happy searching and planning we loved the Rota Vicentina in south-west Portugal. The Italian portion is about 1,000 KM. sounds amazing! From Point Saint Martin to Rome, you will start seeing a big brown sign of the Via Francigena with two walkers or cyclists and a car. What is the Via Francigena? - CaminoWays.com A couple of Aussies in our late 60s. You will find a mixture of hotels, B&B, churches, and monasteries along the via Francigena. Via Francigena (Gallicano nel Lazio) - All You Need to - Tripadvisor But it's not close to the number of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. You get up early in the morning, drink coffee, put your bag on your back and start walking. Apologies for the incredibly delayed response, Karl. Thank you so much It offers you peaceful surroundings, a glimpse into life in Italy, stunning food and drinks, and an authentic adventure. If you are still seeking out the most picturesque parts of the VF. Honestly is best to get into a shop and try them on. Thanks for getting back to me! After walking the Via Francigena, I want to share my experiences and provide you with the most detailed, updated, and comprehensive information. There are many places where walking on the asphalt next to highways with trucks passing quickly and walking on the curb. Oh also: Nell got terrible impact blisters on the balls of her feet. Japan: Nakasendo Highlights. I was wondering perhaps to hike certain areas and then take a bus/train to the next areas and so forth and end our trip in Rome.