The Via Francigena is an ancient pilgrimage route that opens up the sacred heart of Italy’s much worshipped interior. Originally, it was a route taken by the ecclesiastical elite between Canterbury, Rome and the sacred town of Santa Maria di Leuca. Today, it’s broken into various segments within Italy, the longest being between the magnificent walled city of Lucca and Rome, walkable over 22 days. There is an array of other segments to saunter along. For example, you can also follow a soulful southern section between Rome and Terracina, in the province of Latina, or seek out its northern nirvanas between Pontremoli, in the heart of the Lunigiana and Lucca. There is even a sizzling segment on Sicily, which is a north to south walking trail between Palermo on the north coast and Agrigento on its south-west shores.
Highlights of walking the Via Francigena
Peaks to Piedmont
In the northernmost regions of the Via Francigena, you can start your hike over the Swiss border in the Great St Bernard Pass, located high up in the Swiss Alps. From here, you cross almost immediately over into Italy, walking on ancient mountain trails that have been followed by folks from Roman soldiers to Augustinian Friars, coming to a close in Ivrea, in Piedmont, in the foothills of the Alps. If you’d like to push on into Piedmont, the Ivrea to Pavia section takes you through a wide variety of landscapes including Lake Viverone, countless vineyards and river valleys filled with birdlife, all the way into Lombardy.
The Via Francigena in Emilia-Romagna
Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region lies to the north of Tuscany, with the two regions separated by the Apennine Mountains. It’s known for its rich culinary heritage, including Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar and iconic pasta dishes like tortellini. As well as not being short on snacks to fill your backpack, there are a variety of regional wines to toast your trail at the end of each day too. There are two sections of the Via Francigena that go through Emilia-Romagna. The northernmost section is from Pavia to Fidenza, starting in the Lombardy region but, once you cross the River Po on day three, you’re into Emilia-Romagna. And the southern section is between Fidenza and Pontremeli, which is a bit more for mountain worshippers, taking you on a journey through the Apennines, over the ancient Colle di Monte Bardone, which is now known as Cisa Pass. After this, things get more gentle as you potter through the Parma Hills into Tuscany.
The Via Francigena in Tuscany
This part of the Via is just greedy in its gorgeousness. The northernmost section is between Pontremoli and Lucca, a trail that takes you from lesser-known Tuscan terrain at the foot of the Apennines, past ancient castles and down to the coast at Versilia. It then heads back up to the foothills of the Apuan Alps, finishing in the magnificent medieval town of Lucca. From Lucca, there’s another sublime section to Sienna, going from one sandstone architectural beauty to another, with highlights including Monteriggioni and San Gimignano. Heading into the southern Tuscany section, between Siena and Aquapendente, there’s a collection of heavenly hilltop villages, including Montalcino, San Quirico and Vignoni Alto. You can also combine sections of north and south Tuscany on this longer segment between San Miniato and Buonconvento.
The Via Francigena to and from Rome
There’s a well-known expression that ‘all roads lead to Rome’ but in the case of the Via Francigena, the great Italian capital is the final point for many people. Not surprisingly, given its sacred significance. In fact, the longest section of the Via Francigena that we offer is from Lucca, in Tuscany, to Rome, which is walkable over 22 days.
Also known as The Eternal City (and Rome really does keep on giving), its iconic collection of Roman ruins, Renaissance art and contemporary culture make this a fine city to start or finish your time on the Via Francigena. As well as the long trail mentioned above, you can fuse Rome into your Francigena experience on our Orvieto to Rome, Lucca to Rome or Montefiascone to Rome walking holidays. Or start off with a Roman holiday, using it as a glamorous springboard into our Rome to Terracina section, which is the last section of the pilgrimage, taking you from capital to coast.
Via Francigena in Sicily
The Via Francigena also extends across the Strait of Messina to Sicily, with an eight day pilgrimage between Sicily’s north and south coasts. Starting in Palermo on the north coast and finishing in Agrigento on its south-west shores, you get to hike through this idyllic island’s ancient villages, along rocky ridges and past vineyards, with ancient churches and agriturismi en route. The finale, like so many films shot in Sicily, is a rousing one, as you explore the ancient temples and UNESCO site at Agremento.
“Thoroughly enjoyed our hiking from Gambassi Terme to Siena, averaging 10-12 miles per day. Enjoyed beautiful rolling landscapes as we hiked by day, fabulous accommodations with pools and locally-grown delicious Tuscan meals each evening. The company transported our luggage to the next stop each morning and created a terrific itinerary winding along the Via Francigena through San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and ending in Siena.”– Diane from Baltimore
Cycling the Via Francigena
Two of our Via Francigena holidays can also be explored by bike, although they do take slightly different itineraries at some points, in order to provide safe, accessible cycling trails. The northernmost cycling section is between Parma, in Emilia Romagna and Siena, in Tuscany, which takes nine days to explore medieval hamlets, ancient archaeological sites and rolling hills across the Ligurian and Tuscan Apennines. Our other cycling holiday is between Siena and Rome, where you not only get to take in these two great cities, but also cross Tuscany’s iconic Val d’Arbia and Val d’Orcia, and cycle through an array of ancient villages. And, last but not least, you are treated to the magnificent cycle path that leads into the heart of Rome, running along the River Tiber.
Can I start and finish the Via Francigena by train?
The majority of our Via Francigena holidays are accessible by train, and when you click on each tour, you can see more details of how to do this in the ‘Getting there’ section. In Italy, the leading train companies are Trenitalia and Italo. For booking internationally, we also recommend the English-language train booking platform, Rail Europe, where you can book, for example, a ticket from London to Rome (17h approx), or Paris to Parma (10h 30mins approx). You can even take the train to the Sicilian section of the Via Francigena. Not across a bridge, but on a train that is shunted onto the ferry. Sicilians like to do things their way, after all, and this is the only train journey of its kind in Europe. For more details, see the superb train guru website, Seat 61.
When is the best time to do the Via Francigena?
The majority of our Via Francigena holidays are available between March and October, and so you have three glorious seasons to choose from. You could enjoy the wild flowers of Tuscany in spring, the wine harvest of Emilia-Romagna in autumn, the quieter environs around Rome in summer, or time your pilgrimage to arrive in The Vatican for Easter. With the Sicilian section, it doesn’t run in summer because it’s so hot, but you can saunter in the sultry climes of autumn or spring. If you’d like to enjoy a bit of northern exposure, on the segment that starts in Switzerland’s Great St Bernard Pass, the mountains are only clear for hiking between June and September.
Can I walk or cycle the Via Francigena as a solo traveller?
Yes you can, as all of our self-guided holidays along the trail are open to solo travellers. Long gone are the days when solo travel was seen as saddo travel. Independence is in and it’s here to stay. Many of us live chaotic lives where we are either constantly plugged in or peopled out, and escaping on our own is like a spa for the mind, body and soul. For more information, or to build up the courage to walk solo, see our blog, Overcoming your fear of solo travel.
We hope that we’ve filled you in on all the fine details of the Via Francigena. For more pilgrimage inspo and info, you may enjoy the following blogs: Which of the Camino de Santiago routes is for you?; Are camino organised tours missing the point?; and Alternatives to Camino de Santiago trails. You can see all of our Italy walking and cycling tours here, and for any more information, please don’t hesitate to contact our adventure specialists.
