The Way of the Via Francigena stretches along a route that goes from Canterbury all the way to Rome. The history of the route is traced back to Archbishop Sigeric, who in the distant year 990 AD decided to undertake a journey to visit Rome and the Pope.
During the return journey, the Archbishop noted down the 79 stages he completed, which today form part of the historic path. Canterbury and Rome are merely the starting and ending points of a 2000 km journey that crosses seven Italian regions, including Lazio, Tuscany, Emilia, Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont, and Aosta Valley, before crossing the majestic Alps, passing through Switzerland and France, and finally crossing the English Channel to reach the English city.
An itinerary rich in both cultural and historical significance, where you will never tire of the beauty of the Italian landscape, the grandeur of the Alps, and the picturesque Swiss and French panoramas.
Also known as the Rome Ways, the routes of the Via Francigena vary; moreover, the term Via Francigena can also refer to the stretch south of Rome that crosses the regions of Campania, Basilicata, and Puglia heading towards Jerusalem, in that “holy land” journey documented by the pilgrimage of the Icelandic Benedictine monk Nikulás da Munkaþverá back in 1152. As you can see, the Via Francigena is truly a journey through time carrying stories of wars, conquests, and pilgrims who wrote an important chapter in this historic route.
Points of Interest:
- Monteriggioni: A characteristic village in the province of Siena located in the “Montagnola Senese”. Monteriggioni is a corner of history that has remained intact through the centuries.
- San Gimignano: Its village is well-known and much loved, having preserved itself while maintaining its charm.
Information Sheet:
- Country: United Kingdom/France/Switzerland/Italy
- Reference website of the Via Francigena
- Length in kilometers: 2000
- GPX: n.d.
- KMZ: n.d.
