Via Francigena

In short: Via Francigena: from Canterbury to Rome. Length: around 1,900 km, duration: about 3 months. Best time: April to June, September and October.

Overview

Alongside the Way of St James, the Via Francigena is the most important pilgrimage route in Europe. Its course goes back to Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury, who travelled to Rome in the year 990 and wrote down the stops on his way home.

Today the route measures around 1,900 kilometres: a short stretch in England, a good 800 kilometres through France, Switzerland with the Great St Bernard Pass and almost 900 kilometres in Italy. Very few people walk it all in one go.

The most popular section is the one through Tuscany, from Lucca via San Gimignano and Siena to Rome. For the last 100 kilometres you can get a certificate of your own at the Vatican, the Testimonium. The network of hostels is good in Italy but patchy in France.

Main stops: Canterbury, Calais, Reims, Besançon, Lausanne, Great St Bernard Pass, Aosta, Lucca, Siena, Rome.

Sigeric's route from Canterbury to Rome

Around 990 Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury travelled to Rome and had the stops on his way home written down. This list is the basis of today's Via Francigena. It runs through England, France and Switzerland to Italy.

For many the highlight is the section through Tuscany from Lucca via San Gimignano and Siena. You cross the Alps at the Great St Bernard Pass, which is only free of snow in early summer.

Sections instead of the whole route

Very few people walk the full length in one go, as you would need around three months. The last 100 kilometres or so to Rome are popular, as are two weeks through Tuscany. For the Testimonium in Rome you must have walked the last 100 kilometres.

Planning your stages

How long you need depends on your daily distance. The table works this out for 1900 kilometres, with one rest day a week.

Who is this route for?

With some hiking experience this route is very manageable. Expect climbs and keep your days from getting too long.

What does the route cost?

With an albergue or simple guesthouse and one hot meal, 90 to 120 euros a day is usually enough. Over about 110 days that comes to roughly 9,900 to 13,200 euros, plus travel and gear. This is a guide figure.

You can find more routes under Pilgrimage routes in Europe, Pilgrimage in Italy, sorted by religion under Christian pilgrimage routes.