Via Francigena
Discover the Via Francigena and dare to travel the last 140 km, a necessary requirement to obtain your “Testimonium” pilgrimage.
We will start in Acquapendente, from where the distance exceeds by a few kilometres the amount required to obtain your certificate, so you can definitely take home the testimony that you have travelled the path to Rome.
We will walk along Roman roads, dirt tracks and through forests until we reach our final destination. The Via Francígena is also the central route that pilgrims travel to reach, over the centuries, the three major pilgrimages: Rome, Santiago y Jerusalem.
Once you start the adventure on the Via Francigena, the central stretch of the great pilgrimage to the three main Christian destinations, we recommend that you stop on the way to get to know the old town of Viterbo, visit its Papal Palace, the medieval quarter, the cathedral, alleys and their squares and churches.
Once immersed in the Roman culture offered by this city, you can continue the Via Francigena until you reach the last stage. From the “Mons Gaudii” viewpoint (The Mount of Joy), we can observe the best panorama of the Vatican.
Arriving in the Eternal City, we recommend you spend a few days strolling through the centre, taste its delicious gastronomy, and visit its incredible monuments such as the Roman Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, Castel de Sant’angelo, among others.
Acquapendente
In Acquapendente, as soon as you arrive, we suggest that you visit its cathedral, within which you will find the oldest reproduction in Europe of the ancient church of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
You are at the point of the Via Francigena whose distance from Rome is the minimum you will have to travel on foot to get the 'Testimonium' once you have arrived in Rome.
Overnight: Acquapendente
From Acquapendente to Bolsena
On your first day you will find many fields that you will see on your path for several kilometres. Along the way, you will find only one village: San Lorenzo Nuovo. If you have not brought the necessary water and food for the day, this is the place to make a stop.
You will go along a forested path, which in the end will welcome you with the immensity of the beautiful Lake Bolsena and its tree-filled surroundings.
Length: 22,1 km
Overnight: Bolsena
From Bolsena to Montefiascone
In Bolsena you will find slopes and medieval streets that you will fall in love with. We recommend that you visit the Church of Santa Cristina the Martyr. You can also get to know the Fortress Tower, from where you will have an incredible panoramic view of the whole city and Lake Bolsena.
As you walk towards Montefiascone, you will go around Lake Bolsena on the right-hand side. Some small rivers will also accompany you with their sound as you advance through forests.
As a curious fact, we tell you that in Montefiascone, you will find the signage that only 100 kilometres are left until your arrival in Rome. Take the opportunity to visit St. Margaret's Cathedral. Its striking dome will attract you to it.
Length: 17,7 km
Overnight: Montefiascone
From Montefiascone to Viterbo
As soon as you leave Montefiascone you will find a nice monument to the pilgrim, located on a terrace whose views will encourage you to stop there a few minutes before starting the route.
You will walk along the old Cassia road, crossing long and ancient basalt slab trails in very good condition for having been placed there several centuries ago.
You will arrive in Viterbo, an Italian town in the province of Viterbo, in the Lazio region, famous for its volcanic landscapes, lakes and beautiful mountains.
Take the opportunity to explore the historic centre where the urban centre is located surrounded by an ancient wall, visit the Palace of the Popes, the Plaza del Plebiscito and the Palacio dei Priori.
Length: 17,9 km
Overnight: Viterbo
From Viterbo to Vetralla
Some information about Viterbo before you leave it: and for a time it was there that the Popes were chosen.
Leaving Viterbo, the route transforms into ascents and descents between forests and beautiful fields. We will cross the abbey of La Quercia and Bagnaia, avoid the main roads and so travel the hills until we reach Vetralla.
Along the way you will go around large wheat fields as well as olive groves and multiple cottages where you can see just the animals that take care of them.
Length: 18,3 km
Overnight: Vetralla
From Vetralla to Sutri
From Vetralla, we will continue on the Via Francigena until the next stage that will take you to the city of Sutri. During the tour you will find beautiful trails surrounded by forests and farmland. When you reach Sutri you will be able to explore the city and visit the Roman amphitheatre and the Etruscan tombs.
Length: 23,9 km
Overnight: Sutri
From Sutri to Campagnano di Roma
We leave the beautiful city of Sutri and in the first part of the stage, we will cross the fields, streams and waterfalls until we reach Campagnano di Roma; A cosy city full of medieval architecture.
Length: 27,1 km
Overnight: Campagnano di Roma
From Campagnano di Roma to La Storta
Once out of Campagnano, the road will lead us to contemplate the fields of Lazio. We will walk through the Sorbo Valley and contemplate its spectacular panoramic views. Soon after, we arrive in La Storta.
Length: 24,5 km
Overnight: La Storta
From La Storta to Rome
Throughout this stage, we will walk along the Via Cassia until we reach the Parco dell'Insugherata, a wild oasis in Rome. Before arriving in the city, we will arrive at Monte Mario where we can enjoy incredible panoramic views.
Length: 17,2 km
Overnight: Rome
Rome
End your adventure on the Via Francigena after breakfast.
We remind you to apply for your 'Testimonium' certificate to commemorate this adventure.
End of our services.
General information
All the rooms you book with Santiago Ways to make the Camino de Santiago have a private bathroom and all the necessary services to ensure the best comfort.
Our team checks on site the quality of all the accommodation offered in order for pilgrims to live a comfortable and unforgettable experience on the Camino de Santiago.
Availability
When working with quality accommodations with limited capacity, the exact name of the accommodation will be provided 30 days before the start of the Camino.
All accommodation on the Camino de Santiago is subject to availability. In case we can't offer any of them due to capacity, we'll accommodate you in one of equal or better quality.
Single rooms
Single rooms are available subject to availability. Reservations must be made in advance and come at an additional cost.
Where am I going to stay?
All our accommodation has been selected to ensure tranquillity, rest and enjoyment during your Camino de Santiago:
Acquapendente
Bolsena
Montefiascone
Viterbo
Vetralla
Sutri
Campagnano di Roma
La Storta
Roma
Included Services
Accommodation in Hotels and Country Cottages.
Rooms with private bathroom.
Meal plan of your choice.
Luggage transport between stages.
Complete itinerary of the route.
24 hours Telephone assistance on route.
Assistance vehicle in case of emergency.
Informative dossier on the Via Francigena.
VAT.
Additional Services
Additional single room: contact us for price.
Extra night in Rome: contact us for price.
Transfer airport: contact us for price.
Travel assistance insurance: contact us for price.
Cancellation insurance: contact us for price.
In order to resolve the doubts of all pilgrims, here we answer the questions that are most frequently asked when we receive your inquiries.
If you have any other questions, you can contact us and we will be happy to help you resolve all your doubts.
Route
What is the best time to do the Via Francigena?
The Via Francigena can be started on any day of the year, always taking into account the weather and the season in which you want to travel, so that your clothes are the right ones.
How do I get to my starting point on the Via Francigena?
The best way to get to the starting point of your Via Francigena is to arrive at the airport, train station or bus station nearest to the town from where you will start walking.
Once you confirm your Via Francigena, you will send us the arrival information for your flight, train or bus and, from there, we organize a private transfer to the town where you should start your Via Francigena.
Can I travel alone?
Yes, you can. All the routes on the Via Francigena are suitable for pilgrims to travel solo.
Also, whether you are travelling alone, or travelling accompanied but want to sleep in a single room, Santiago Ways offer this option to you.
We can book all your nights of accommodation in single rooms at an additional cost. We suggest you book well in advance since they are usually in high demand.
On the Via Francigena, you will find hundreds of pilgrims walking on their own. Many of them may have come to the Via Francigena alone; others have probably moved away from their fellow travellers for a few hours because of the difference in speed when walking.
In any case, all the routes on the Via Francigena are very well signposted, so you will have no problem if you go on your own.
Am I going to have an accompanying guide on the Via Francigena?
The Via Francigena is done in a self-guided mode. Thus, each traveller has the opportunity to advance on their own and at their own pace along the routes marked on the complete itinerary of the route, which is sent one month before starting the Via Francigena.
However, we offer organized groups with accompanying guide on the Camino de Santiago from Sarria to Santiago. We have specific dates already established, and we carry them out in groups of up to 15 people, with guaranteed departures. The guides in charge of these routes speak English and Spanish.
We already have all the dates published until 2021, so you are encouraged to reserve your place before the groups are filled.
What does the full route itinerary consist of?
The complete itinerary of the route is a guide that we prepare for you with information about the maps, route profiles and places of interest, kilometre by kilometre on each of the stages that you will go through on the Via Francigena.
The travel distances and travel times indicated for each route on both the website and the itinerary we send you are based on reference values. It depends on each pilgrim exactly how they carry out these times and distances, according to the speed at which they progress.
When do I get the full route itinerary?
You will receive it by email one month before starting your Via Francigena along with all the documentation for the trip: accommodation reservations, baggage transfers, among others.
How many kilometres should I walk on each stage?
On average, a stage of the Via Francigena with Santiago Ways has 15 to 20 km.
Advice
What should I consider to prepare physically?
Both sedentary people and those who regularly exercise should physically prepare for doing the Via Francigena.
Sedentary people can start with moderate activity and continue progressively. They should start by taking small 20-minute walks, two or three times a week. It is suggested to increase the time until you reach walk about 4 or 5 kilometres every hour.
People with regular physical activity can start by walking from 45 to 60 minutes a day and increase the amount of time and kilometres they travel in the same span of time.
Generally, it is recommended to start training for about three months before starting the route.
How far in advance should I make a reservation?
There is no minimum number of days in advance to book, although on certain dates the occupancy of the accommodation is higher, especially in high season, and in dates of religious interest.
Therefore, in order to guarantee availability in the best accommodation, we suggest you book as much in advance as possible, so that we can meet all of your needs.
What clothes and hiking equipment are indispensable?
We suggest you to bring the following items: light and fast drying clothing, waterproof jacket and trousers, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a pair of shoes suitable for hiking, trekking poles, a pair of shoes to rest in, a jacket that doesn't take up much space and a bottle to carry water.
Depending on the time of year in which you make the route, these items may vary.
Remember that with Santiago Ways, you have included a baggage transfer service between stages, so we will take your backpack from one accommodation to another so that you only worry about walking (maximum 1 piece of 20 kg per person).
For this reason, we suggest you prepare a second backpack, much smaller, that you can carry with you every day with water, sunscreen, cap, sunglasses, documents, some food and cash.
How does the baggage transfer work between stages?
Every day, at 8:00 am, you must bring your luggage, properly labelled, to the reception. One of our carriers will pick it up and take it to the place where you are going to stay on your next stage.
Delivery time varies according to the distance between stages and the carrier's delivery route. Usually, delivery is made before 4 p.m.
Should I take out travel insurance?
To complete the Via Francigena it is advisable to have travel insurance with all the necessary coverage, especially emergency evacuation and medical care.
To do this, we suggest you take out the Travel Assistance Insurance and Cancellation Insurance that we offer you in Santiago Ways. If you want more information about it, we will be happy to answer your questions.
Accommodation
Do all rooms have a private bathroom?
Yes, all rooms you book with Santiago Ways to do the Via Francigena have a private bathroom.
Can I sleep alone in a room?
Yes. We offer accommodation in single rooms and double rooms, according to the requirements of each pilgrim.
Single rooms have a special surcharge and are subject to availability and according to location.
When will you tell me in which hotels I am going to stay?
We work with multiple accommodations in all locations which allows us to guarantee the best quality rooms for our pilgrims, provided that they are booked well in advance.
The name and exact location of each hotel is sent about one month before the start of the Via Francigena with all the documentation related to the trip.
Am I going to share a room with strangers?
No. All the accommodations we book for our pilgrims have private rooms with private bathrooms in order to guarantee all the comfort needed to rest properly.
Is the accommodation close to the route that I should follow?
All the accommodations that we book are in the centre of the towns or villages. In any case, depending on availability, if any accommodation is somewhat far from the centre, most of them are accessible on foot.
When necessary, Santiago Ways could offer a round trip transfer so that the pilgrim can reach their accommodation in the most comfortable way possible and return the next day to the point on the route from where he must continue the Via Francigena.
What type of accommodation do you reserve?
All the accommodation that we book in Santiago Ways offers the necessary comfort to rest after long days of walking.
We work with Hotels and Country Cottages, always with private bathroom rooms.
