Via Francigena
The Via Francigena is an historical pilgrims path, stretching 2.230 km from Canterbury to Rome, it crosses 5 countries, 16 regions, and over 600 municipalities, from plains to hills and mountain passes.
Over 3 trips, I have walked 1.135kms of the 2.230kms between Canterbury and Rome.
Known as a trading route since the middle ages, the route was in fact a multitude of routes leading to Rome. The current Via Francigena is accredited to Sigeric the Serious, Archbishop of Canterbury, when he used the Via Francigena to travel to Rome for his consecration by Pope John XV. He recorded his return journey, and the places he stopped, in a document which is now held by the British Library, and is now the base for the path travelled by many pilgrims.
Sarzana to Rome
In the autumn of 2025, I started the final stage of my walk from Sagres to Rome. Leaving from La Spezia, I walked on the Via Francigena from Sarzana to Rome, a total of 500km over 19 days.
It was a beautiful walk, where beyond meeting many fellow walkers, passed through Sienna and Lucca, not least between San Miniato and Radicofani, and San Gimignano and Rome. I passed through Tuscany's rolling hills with spectacular views around every corner. Fantastic villages (often on top of hill tops) and towns are dotted along the route, full of history.
Sarzana to Rome blog
Sarzana to Pavia
In April 2026, I returned to the Via Francigena and this time walked for 8 days north from Sarzana to Pavia, 250kms over the fabulous Apennines and through the Po valley.
Walking north I met many pilgrims walking towards Rome. If possible, the Apennine in April were even more beautiful than Tuscany in September. I also passed through numerous beautiful towns such as Fidenza, Pontremoli and Piacenza - to mention a few.
I continued from Pavia, north on the Via Francisca to Chur in Switzerland.
Sarzana to Pavia blog
Pavia to Lausanne
My third trip along the Via Francigena, in May 2026, took me across the Po valley, along the Aosta valley, over the Grand Saint Bernard Pass ad following the banks of the Rhône before arriving in Lausanne on lake Geneva.
This stage took 15 days, covering ca. 375 kms with an elevation gain of almost 8.000m, and took me through Italy and Switzerland.
I walked through the rice fields of the monotonously flat Po Valley, passed forts of the Aosta valley, passed over the Grand Saint Bernard Pass (at 2.473m) and then walked downhill towards Lausanne and Lake Geneva.
Pavia to Lausanne blog