Go on a fascinating historical hiking trail through Italy on the famous Via Francigena! This is an ancient pilgrim route leading to Rome and is believed to have originated as far away as England!
The name ‘Via Francigena’ means ‘The road that comes from France’ or ‘Via Romea Francigena’ meaning ‘The road to Rome that comes from France’.
Choose from an outstanding collection of Italian villas ranging from luxury villas to stunning vacation rentals on the Amalfi coast in Southern Italy. The Via Francigena passes through France, England, Switzerland and finally through Italy.
The name ‘Via Francigena’ means ‘The road that comes from France’ or ‘Via Romea Francigena’ meaning ‘The road to Rome that comes from France’.
Choose from an outstanding collection of Italian villas ranging from luxury villas to stunning vacation rentals on the Amalfi coast in Southern Italy. The Via Francigena passes through France, England, Switzerland and finally through Italy.
It first enters Italy via a small mountain village called Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses through the Great St. Bernard Pass in Aosta Valley from Switzerland.
The full route you can travel in Italy from the Gran San Bernardo at Aosta Valley to Rome is approximately 1000 kilometres long. It passes through the regions of Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany and Latium.
The saying ‘All roads lead to Rome’ is quite a valid one as several notable pathways led through to this catholic city where faithful Christians used to travel along to visit the Pope in Vatican city and visit the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul.
The full route you can travel in Italy from the Gran San Bernardo at Aosta Valley to Rome is approximately 1000 kilometres long. It passes through the regions of Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany and Latium.
The saying ‘All roads lead to Rome’ is quite a valid one as several notable pathways led through to this catholic city where faithful Christians used to travel along to visit the Pope in Vatican city and visit the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul.
An abbot called Sigerico who was named Bishop of Canterbury in England in 990 described his long 994 mile journey in great detail towards the holy city where he was to be officially ordained.
He wrote a diary of his travels which was discussed by many with great interest and remnants of the landmarks he passed through survived through word of mouth.
Many believe this is the original pilgrim route to Rome which passed through the other countries of France and Switzerland.
The Via Francigena grew to become a communication line of cultural unity in Europe as well as a popular trade route. Many tributary paths connected with it and others diverged. Many abbeys, churches, hospitals and places of rest and shelter sprang up along the Via Francigena to assist weary travellers. It is divided into 44 sections in Italy so you can decide to walk as much or as little of it as you like
He wrote a diary of his travels which was discussed by many with great interest and remnants of the landmarks he passed through survived through word of mouth.
Many believe this is the original pilgrim route to Rome which passed through the other countries of France and Switzerland.
The Via Francigena grew to become a communication line of cultural unity in Europe as well as a popular trade route. Many tributary paths connected with it and others diverged. Many abbeys, churches, hospitals and places of rest and shelter sprang up along the Via Francigena to assist weary travellers. It is divided into 44 sections in Italy so you can decide to walk as much or as little of it as you like
Photo credits
picture 1: Wikipeder / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Ximonic / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 1: Wikipeder / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Ximonic / CC BY-SA 3.0;