Via Francigena - 07 Lazio

The place

pilgrimage route linking Canterbury to Rome

Why go

Val d'Orcia (UNESCO) between Siena and Acquapendente. Bolsena and its volcanic lake. Viterbo and the Popes (medieval papal residence). Lake Bracciano. St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square as the finish.

A bit of history

The Via Francigena was followed by Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury in 994, recorded in his memoirs as a sequence of 80 stages from Canterbury to Rome. Rediscovered in the 20th century and officially waymarked from the 1990s onward, it is today a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe and a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Getting there

Siena: train from Florence (1h30) or Rome (2h). Rome: international hub. Well served by public transport along the whole route.

Recommended gear

Sturdy trekking or walking shoes. 30-40 L backpack. Pilgrim credential. Identity document.

Best season

March to June and September to November. Summer is very hot in Maremma and Lazio. Spring and autumn are ideal.