Travelling for four months can be expensive. Don't break even if it hurts a little and your body is not used to walking a lot. Double room in a hotel or B&B, expect to pay about 50 euros per night for 2 person. The countryside is sublime and its blissfully cool. No worries, glad we can offer some distraction and inspiration through these difficult times! In the Middle Ages, there were three ways of pilgrimage: one to Santiago in Spain, the second to Jerusalem, and the third most important - to Rome. Luke. Im very excited to have found your website. It was a sort of melting pot of medieval society. Two critical things for the quality of the trip are the backpack and shoes. . Got us through! We always wanted a coffee or cold drink, and also snacks, so stopped and they always have facilities. The Via Francigena connected Canterbury Cathedral in England to the Vatican and St Peter's Cathedral in Rome, Italy, via a 1900km pilgrimage route. Hi Peter, good to hear from you! Does this make any sense ? The small towns in the Via Francigena are in remote areas, and accommodation options may be limited, so organization is essential. Also, there are fabulous views to enjoy from the hilltop town . In September / October, you will enjoy pleasant temperatures and might also be able to catch the regional wine harvest in full swing. But many places have e-mails, so you can just contact that way if you wish too. I strongly recommend the stage between Lausanne to Aosta, or between Lucca to Siena, or if you have more time, between Lucca to Rome. The route itself is mostly on defined walking paths, roads, and (contrary to what wed read) is indeed signposted, in one weird way or another. You may want to just continue walking when you get there, if so you can get the guide in towns along the way. The main dish includes a fish, meat, or seafood dish accompanied by boiled or baked vegetables. . The document is different from the Compostela that you get and is more generic. Just trying to picture how much of your pack was filled with electronics, cords and batteries. It is good to carry 1-2 liters of water with you. The . In all of them, and in particular the Camino France, part of the experience of the way is the social life, the people you meet and know every day from other parts of the world. And if you read about our Alps experience youll know we were a bit worried about hiking up over them. You can find fountains and fill your bottle in every town along the Via Francigena. Hello Luke Im walking the VF from Turin to Rome solo and am wondering, is necessary to always call ahead for accommodation?.. Started planning now for VF, having been reading about it on internet. PILGRIMS ON THE CAMINO. I'll start by saying that there is no special menu for pilgrims.
Via Francigena: The Guide With Detailed Information + Map Remember you have to have walked 100km on the route into Rome (proven by stamps in your pilgrim credential) to get a certificate. Many restaurants close in the afternoon and open again in the evening. I am fortunate in having a wife and dog but they Your feet will continue to walk until you reach Rome and receive the pilgrim's certificate. If you can do under 10kg with camping gear youre doing really well! Sometimes its awkward and you just have to spend, but by camping in France and Switzerland it makes Italy a bit easier. I wanted to experience the pilgrim way again. I am thinking I will bring just a solo tent, plate and utensils and opt out of cooking. Its best to have a guidebook anyway. It offers you peaceful surroundings, a glimpse into life in Italy, stunning food and drinks, and an authentic adventure. Luke & Nell. Doing it her way would be a stretch for me but it might be just what I need. 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). hello thank you for all the great info. Looking forward to hear your recommendations, Hi there, so sorry for the lack of reply.
The most important and main road was the Via Francigena. Interested you liked Lightfoot, think might get those as well. You need to be moderately fit no more. Thanks for getting back to me! The Italian portion is about 1,000 KM. I found various blogs and websites, but the information was limited, especially in English. In most of them, the pilgrims' room will be clean, and you will be provided with a hot shower and a bed, and usually, there will be no wifi in these places. There were lots about, mostly behind gates, or entirely uninterested. A hotel room or b&b, the prices are 70-100 euros per person.
Top Tips for Walking the Via Francigena: Lucca to Siena We camped about 50% of our time in France and Switzerland. On the dinner menu, you will find pizza in almost every restaurant. In any case, you don't have to walk 25 kilometers every day. These cookies do not store any personal information. Im a very detailed and prepper kinda guy. Hi, do you know of a guide that covers the whole route Canterbury to Rome in one book?? Backpack - the second most important thing is your backpack. But not the same amount of people as on the Camino. Have read many comments saying not well signed Also would you highly recommend a tent. Copyright Luke & Nell, What if we walked?, 2017-2023 | All rights reserved - photography and written content cannot be used without our permission | Our Privacy & Cookies Policy. Thanks again. Cycling the Via Francigena? One of the world's most rewarding walking trails, the historic Via Francigena is an ancient road and pilgrim's route stretching more than a thousand kilometres through France, Switzerland and Italy, finishing up in the Eternal City of Rome. We took the canal route out of Calais as Cicerone suggests, because we wanted to move south not west to Wissant! A lot of people appear worried about Italy in the heat of summer. Sorry for the delay weve been walking in France and then Italy. But as a hobby landscape photographer I would also like to see the most picturesque landscapes on the way. Also, how much camping gear did you need? Yes, you will meet pilgrims from different countries. Sometimes I was surprised to see the markings showing me that I should walk on the side of the road. The road is around 2,000 kilometres long and one afternoon, I decided to walk the 20km stretch from Monteriggioni to Siena in Tuscany. The disadvantage in Switzerland is that there are almost no budget places for pilgrims like in Italy. These signs indicate the direction of the route and are generally positioned in areas where motorized vehicles can circulate. We didnt burst any blisters: just clean and Compeed, clean and Compeed, and that seemed to do the trick for us. I got to know their coffee culture, the aperitivo time, how important pasta is for them, and more. For those who are looking for quiet, this is the way for them. Nowadays a lot of the guidebook publishers provide GPX as part of your purchase (like Cicerone, for example). So I will restart planning. From the Alps down to Rome? You automatically become a member and it now comes with a badge to sew on your pack too (picturing the symbol of Rome, the cross keys). The Terre guide I have just covers the Italian part. And if ever in doubt on the outskirts of a town -thats when it most likely happens- just check Google Maps Youll be fine on $50 per day for the both of you if you dont splurge on meals out and alcohol. Talk to our travel specialists about the best time to walk the Via Francigena if you have a preferred section in mind we havent covered in this post. It's your Camino and only yours. Hi Luke and Nell, hope this website still works? Thank you once again for getting back in touch. Alternatively you can staple more pages in yourself. Thank you for so much knowledgeable information. Clothing - basically for hiking in the summer, it will be warm. It is difficult to describe the suffering of those who after a day or two got blisters. Just go in and ask. The best tip to prepare you for walking the Via Francigena is to commit to serious hill training before you depart. One would prefer to eat out every day in restaurants, and the other would buy groceries and cook whatever would lower the costs. The meal is always finished with something sweet. Especially on the via Francigena because there is the crossing of Saint Bernard pass in the Alps. // The via Francigena is not crowded at all. 5 / Pack light- Keep it basic. It's worth remembering: in the first day or two or even the first week, the body hurts from the journey and the many kilometers and hours of walking, but after that, the body gets used to it. Thanks Luke! Who knew? If you do not live in Europe, it is necessary to use a local SIM. Ive been doing a good bit of research and that definitely seems to be correct. The more hotels and meals out you want though. It can ruin large parts of the journey. Some have combined the pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem. 10 / Enjoy - Dont forget to enjoy yourself on your journey! Which part or parts of the route would you recommend ? How well is the French section sign posted? (But doesnt feel much more than that. France is flat, the Alps & Italy are hilly. 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. Usually, these dangerous sections will not be for a long distance. I do have Cicerone ebook, and Llightfoot Guide, and have downloaded the official VF guide, and a couple of map guides. They don't write where you started walking or how many kilometers you traveled but still another nice souvenir in the end. 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. We want to return to Asia and explore more solely on foot. 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. My wife Gaye and I (Peter) did the whole VF in one go in 2016. Hi Kevin, thank you for the message! Clooney monasteries movement supported the pilgrimage phenomenon and declared the pilgrims protected. Visit well-preserved medieval towns such as Sutri, Vetralla, and Formello.
UTracks | The Best Pilgrimage Walks: Via Francigena vs the Camino At some point, it becomes part of your daily routine. You can rest your body and explore beautiful places along the way. I havent yet complete the GPX file for the route we took. A Testimonium is a document confirming the completion of a pilgrimage to Rome. Via Francigena is a pilgrim route that starts in Canterbury (England) and continues to Rome.
Via Francigena Walking Holidays | Trek Addict Normal people wouldnt carry as much as this, but we had blogging and camping gear with us which took up lots of space. You may need to go back to a different section this summer with you camera! Via Francigena was not a single road like the Roman roads, paved with stones, there were horse-changing stations for travelers with official duties. Your guide has bolstered my resolve, Thanks will keep dipping into your site bfor advice and inspiration. Have an amazing time! 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. We would recommend not taking the tent for the Italian section. We have a pilgrim passport which is actually a document that you will sign along the way. Unlike on the Camino de Santiago, where there is a large selection of accommodation arranged for pilgrims with lots of beds, the via Francigena, it works differently. I will look into that. Any thoughts as to how I can obtain a pilgrims credential? Oh also: Nell got terrible impact blisters on the balls of her feet. My question is whether it is necessary to camp or are there always places to stay. We found a mix of normal clothes and active-wear worked quite well, and NO walking clothes were needed. We did get bitten to bits by mosquitoes, one of which got infected for Luke. , Hi Colleen, What worries me most is not having a paper map! Most of the sections are suitable to walk in the winter, apart from mountain regions such as the stretch across the Alps and St Bernard's Pass, however, it will be a more solitary experience. If youre going all the way from Canterbury to Rome and aiming to get stamps every day, in 2017 there wasnt enough room in the book. 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. 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. Its best to call ahead during July and August, but at other times of the year youll likely be fine just turning up in the late afternoon at pilgrim accommodation. Ill likely just make it to Italy, then return the next year to finish. P.S. Luke. Suffered too with impact blisters which also started to clear up about day 22! You will find a mixture of hotels, B&B, churches, and monasteries along the via Francigena. And the first few weeks are flat so in some ways, that could be your easing-in period. Get through that, and its honestly enjoyable. 8 / Many accommodations are staffed by volunteers or are not permanently staffed. If you can, it is recommended to do a short hike of two or three days with a backpack to get used to walking and the weight of the backpack. 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. Youll need a pilgrim passport to get into pilgrim accommodation, as well as your certificate from Rome at the end. Thanks for your blog its very good I hope it will help you plan this route in the best way. I have walked the Camino Frances, Portuguese inland and coastal, Norte, Primitivo and de la Plata and the San Salvador and Camino dos Farros, always in July and was wondering if you can comment on how they compare to the VF. If you are wondering how long it takes to walk the Via Francigena find it out in this post. The trickiest walking part was getting over the Alps. However, any person of average fitness can walk this way. Via Francigena is a bundle of roads that begins in the United Kingdom and ends in Rome, crossing Switzerland and France. These boots were comfortable from the get-go, gave neither of us any rubbing blisters, and the only thing that wore out was the ACTUAL GRIP on the soles. 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. The trail's name was coined by the Italians as the "Via Francigena" (the road that comes from France . I would quite like to write a guide book of sorts for the VF though. About a year of continuous walking in every direction. Please allow for extra time to find accommodation. But once we were in Italy, the Terre di Mezzo guide (the link is to the Italian language guidebook we used) gave us everything we needed. We believe this was the right choice. The main routes of pilgrimage to Rome were from Northern Europe. 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). Apologies for the incredibly delayed response, Karl. Its a lifesaver and actually a wonderful part of the trip. The pains of the first few days disappear, and you realize that it's all in the head and a mental matter. Leave this with me We kept to 50 euros per day for four months between the two of us. The water is drinkable. Something like Route Napoleon for crossing the Pyrenees from St Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles on the Camino Francs.
Best walks in Tuscany: Monteriggioni to Siena on Via Francigena I am starting to plan and could really use the .GPX file you mentioned if that is still available? We reckon the best bet for you is to go down the Lightfoot Guide (and GPS) route, because there are bike alternatives when the official path becomes too difficult for bikes. The pilgrims' passport will testify to your walking in Via Francigena. It led from Canterbury in England through northwestern France, Switzerland (Lake Geneva), and northern Italy (Lombardy and Tuscany) to Rome. Ive replied to the earlier question, Andrew. I am looking at doing the same. Luke & Nell. Camino Ingles from Ferrol to Santiago: starting on the coastline, summer is a great time to walk the Camino Ingles as you can end your first day walking by taking a dip in the sea on the beautiful beach as you enter Pontedeume. There is something unique that combines a powerful personal experience. Accommodations for low-budget pilgrims are scarce and almost non-existent in Switzerland. Experience the natural beauty of Veio Natural Park and the Lazio countryside. I would be very interested. Hola Pelerins!! But our way allowed us to walk slowly, take photos, blog and see some of the sights along the route (like Reims or Siena). You will present the passport in Rome at the Vatican City to receive a Testimonium (a document that officially confirms that you have walked at least 100 kilometers to Rome). We did indeed pack a small camera but only one. This can also be a good thing, but it is important to understand before starting this route that there is not the same social atmosphere. In addition, you can find antipasti, which is an appetizer for the meal, usually a Caprese salad and some vegetables. Any others questions, you know where we are! Exactly where we stayed? Its too long for most dogs, plus you do come across other dogs from time to time. Reading your blog made us realize we should see it as an adventure, rather than a task to be completed. // Another thing you should know is the dogs in Italy. Read our walking over the Alps post to see the slightly amended route we did to avoid the sketchiest part of the VF.). In fact, different guidebooks/tourism boards/maps send you down different paths entirely, all of which join back up periodically, particularly in France. There are countless reasons for walking the Via Francigena. For more information about cycling or walking the Via Francigena, the Camino to Rome, or to book your trip, contact our travel specialists. But from our ridiculous mistakes, we learned what works. May was good in France last year = heat waves! #1 of 12 things to do in Gallicano nel Lazio Historic Walking Areas Write a review About All roads lead to Rome. If we need some more info we know where you are! Dinner can cost around 20-25 euros per person, light lunch or pizza around 10 euros. I purchased my pilgrims' passport in Lausanne for 5 euros. Funnily enough for Via Francigena guide authors, we are actually pretty bad at packing or we were, at least. We have walked the last 100k into Santiago and also Porto to Tui. And it was a bit chilly in the evening. I was made apprehensive by reading reports that I might not be able to arrange accomodation or food without a good knowledge of Italian. You can expect a warm welcome in any family B&B in Italy. I walked from Lausanne to Rome in October-November of 2022. They used to send sinners on a pilgrimage as a penance for their actions, and on the other hand, the upper classes saw it as a duty and a challenge to make the journey. Once again I will be walking alone as a mid 60ish person do you think this is a problem? Happy planning! If you are looking for a social experience, the Camino Frances . Thank you so much for your time and great tips! We went offline for a while! The Via Francigena got its name because most of the pilgrims came from France, similar to the French way that crosses Spain to Santiago de Compostela. I think youll really enjoy the (tiny) English and French sections. They say the best things happen outside your comfort zone. It's not the Camino de Santiago, with tons of people walking the same path as you every day. Any other questions you have let us know happy planning! They are convenient (in most towns) and most are donativo. Yep, we walked them to death. Some people say that you only get it if you walk religiously. 1,900km of walking trails
What is the Via Francigena? - CaminoWays.com I searched a lot about those who did it in the past. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Pleasure Anastasia! 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). And the achievement of getting somewhere entirely on foot is like nothing else. Moved it to the top of the list . The Via Francigena takes an ancient route through the UK, France, Switzerland and Italy. Would love to hear how it was will reply a bit quicker next time..! Interested that Lightfoot is also online. Malaysia: Mt Kinabalu (including the Via Feratta) We highly recommend you get up and over the Alps because it is such a highlight of the entire journey! If you'd like to walk to Rome, following in Sigeric's footsteps, it will take you 100 days (99 nights - 98 walking days) to complete the whole route, walking between 14 and 30kms per day. 200 for the both of us per week Happy planning! (1,004 km). Departure day is very close Susan how exciting! You get up early in the morning, drink coffee, put your bag on your back and start walking. Oh God, we ate everything. The well-known Italian desserts, the delicious and wonderful tiramisu, and panna cotta. We havent been using the blog, as Im sure you gathered. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Super Feet. Hi Luke As mentioned, the via Francigena is not very famous. You also have an option to 'split' the longest walking days in two in certain sections, taking you . Open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between the hours of 7:30 and 18:00. Along much of the way is the red and white tape of the official route, marked with a black pilgrim silhouette to distinguish it from other long-distance trails. 3 / A local sim is very useful. I will be carrying a tent and cooking gear with me, but will not have a phone. Wi-fi is not always findable in many towns on the via Francigena.
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