Via Francigena - the Path to Rome
Footloose- 7 Nights/8 Days
An unguided walking holiday consisting of eight one-week stages.
From the 4th century AD a great number of people wishing to visit the holy places started moving round Europe. As the number of pilgrims increased, Europe became covered by a wide network of roads which headed towards three destinations: Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Rome. To cater for the pilgrims a great many abbeys, monasteries, hospitals and shelters were built.
At the end of the 10th century the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sigeric, travelled to Rome and on his return journey he kept a record of the route and his stops. The 80 stages covering some 1700 km has become the basis for re-identifying the route today.
Itinerary and Highlights
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The Via Francigena was never a single ‘road’ but was comprised of several routes that changed as trade and pilgrimage developed and waned, the time of year, political situation and the relative popularity of the shrines of saints along the route.
Today, the original Francigena follows the ancient Roman roads: the Aurelia and the Cassia which have become asphalt traffic-ridden roads. Our walks have been adapted to use paths and unpaved roads. Where possible they include some very historically and artistically important sites as well as respect the Sigeric route as much as possible.
You can walk the route in eight weekly stages unguided with all arrangements pre-arranged i.e. accommodation, luggage transfers, walking notes and route maps provided as follows:
Week 1: San Bernard to Pont St Martin (131 km). Highlights: the mountains; Valle d’Aosta villages and castles; Ivrea (red towers).
Week 2: Pont St Martin - Pavia (138 km). Highlights: Vercelli; St Albino Abbey; Pavia; church of San Felice.
Week 3: Pavia - Parma (123 km). Highlights: Cross the Po River; San Iazzaro Hospital; Fidenza Duomo; Parma cheese.
Week 4: Parma - Aulia (129 km). Highlights: Apennine Mts; Fornovo and Berceto cathedrals; Cisa Pass.
Week 5: Aulia - San Miniato (120 km) Highlights: Apennine Mts; Lucca; San Miniato.
Week 6: San Miniato - San Quirico d’Orcia (125 km). Highlights: Towers of San Gimignano; Monteriggioni walls; Siena; La Collegiata.
Week 7: San Quirio - Montefiascone (121 km). Highlights: St Antimo Abbey; the “crete” landscape; San Salvatore Abbey; Lake Bolsena.
Week 8: Montefiascone - Rome (118 km). Highlights: Vic and Bracciano lakes; Cimi Mts; Sutri Cathedral; Veio; Rome (approach on the Appia Antica): option to receive benediction by a priest on arrival in Rome.
GUIDED OPTIONS: You can join a group of people from all over the world for 14 and 7 night small group guided tours. These are escorted by knowledgeable guides conversant in Medieval history and Romanic art – plus a back up vehicle is there to provide a lift should you require it.
Detailed trip notes of each stage are available from A Walker's World.
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