Via Francigena Map

The Via Francigena (the Iter Francorum, or the "Frankish Route") is a branch of the Pilgrimage trail that goes between Canterbury and Rome, coming into full use starting around the 11th century.

Bishop Sigeric of Canterbury first made the journey to Rome in 990 AD to receive honors from the Pope. He kept details of his travels in a book, with pictures and maps of the route, which became the pilgrimage route of today, more or less.

The route contains lots of interesting cities, from the Roman stronghold of Aosta, with some great ruins to visit, to Ivrea, known for its orange-throwing carnevale, Vercelli for its rice (and the frogs who have a symbiotic relationship with it), Luni, for which the Lunigiana gets its name (there are ruins to visit) and other compelling destinations like San Gimigiano and its towers and Siena with its Palio. It's a great route to trek today.

Some of the destinations on the Via Francigena trail of Northern Italy have information you can find by dragging your mouse cursor over the destination name on the map and clicking.

Via Francigena Resources

Via Francigena - Associazione Europea: Mostly in Italian, but you can download maps of the stages of the walk.

Association Via Francigena: Information site in English.

Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome: Practical help and information for those making a pilgrimage to Rome by foot, bicycle or horse.

The Via Francigena - A site in English about the Via.

Notes on Walking the Francigena - Interested in how long it takes to go from Aosta to Rome. Here are some notes from a pilgrimage.

EuroVia - A site for pilgrims to share experiences.

Le Vie Francigene del Sud - Maps and resources for the Via Francigena south of Rome to Brindisi and other east coast ports.

FrancigenaLibrari - New Italian Government portal for Via Francigena information.

Recommended Books and Guides

LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena Edition 3 - Latest Maps and field notes on all aspects of the via Francigena in Italy, from the Great St. Bernard Pass to Rome. Lots of pictures and information on what you'll see along the way. Interesting even for those who don't choose to walk the via. You can also buy just the Italian section of the pilgrimage: LightFoot Guide to the via Francigena Edition 3 - Vercelli to St Peter's Square, Rome

An Italian Odyssey: One Couple's Culinary and Cultural Pilgrimage - Find out what it's like when food lovers hit the Via Francigena. Read our review of An Italian Odyssey.

Custom Search