One of the most important religious pilgrimage routes in history is today a popular and busy hiking path which attracts enthusiasts from all over the world.
The origins of this pilgrim itinerary date back to the early Middle Ages when the Lombards traced a path of expansion across the Apennines, connecting the Po Valley, the centre of their kingdom, with Tuscany and upper Lazio. The name 'Francigena', however, derives from the Franks who, having defeated the Lombards, established the Holy Roman Empire, within which the route continued to be a strategic arterial road, much used by soldiers, traders and wayfarers. In the year 994, a particular fact marked the fortune of this route. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sigeric, set out on a memorable journey of 1,800 kilometres, making the first complete pilgrimage to Rome. His diary, rich in notes and descriptions of the places he passed through and the stages, inspired more and more pilgrims to make the spiritual journey to the capital of Christianity, obtaining plenary indulgence. The Via Francigena thus quickly became one of the three major Catholic pilgrimages in the world, together with the Holy Land and Santiago de Compostela. Today, more and more trekking enthusiasts come from all over the world to discover, backpacking and at a slow pace, the artistic and environmental beauty of the different stages of the route. Along footpaths, mule tracks and country roads, the itinerary is well marked and directs travellers across lands rich in history and culture, surrounded by ever-changing natural landscapes, off the beaten tourist track. Curiosity In 1994 the route was declared a “Major European Cultural Route”, a well-deserved accolade given its historical importance and its function as an intercultural link between the peoples of the old continent. ITINERARIES The itinerary is well signposted. Travellers can either journey along the official stages or cover shorter sections, according to individual needs. This way they will be able to discover some of Italy’s most outstanding beauty spots: 800 kilometres of the route’s total length of 1,800 are within Italy. The itinerary can be covered on foot, by bicycle and, in part, also on horseback. To promote the Via Francigena, the European Association of Via Francigena Ways has been set up. The association’s website is packed with information, including maps and downloadable maps of the entire route (www.francigena.eu). The AIVF (Via Francigena International Association), on the other hand, maintains the trails and provides support for the stages ( www.francigena-international.org). The last two stages, from Campagnano to La Storta and from La Storta to San Pietro, cross the Veio Park, the municipalities of Campagnano and Formello and Rome’s Municipality XV. STAGES The stage starts in the main square of Campagnano, passing through the town and into the Valle del Sorbo where the Sanctuary is located. Here we walk through the woods, following the course of the river, which we cross by means of a small bridge; after arriving in Formello, we can enjoy a refreshing break or finish the walk (8 km). Those who have energy enough can continue walking through the town centre and then, after short stretches of paved road, plunge back into nature after reaching a wide and airy area used by model aircraft enthusiasts as a flying field. After crossing the river Cremera, we continue through the namesake valley and come to the characteristic Borgo di Isola Farnese. The village of La Storta is still just 2 km away, but if you are tired, these can be covered by bus. *a temporary variation of the itinerary is currently indicated on the official website due to measures to contain swine fever. 19 km, altitude gain + 400 m, 5 hours From the parish church of La Storta, we cover the first few kilometres along the Via Cassia, where it is advisable to proceed on the left-hand pavement. After passing the Grande Raccordo Anulare (the Rome ring road), we enter a very picturesque green oasis: the Insugherata Park, which takes its name from the presence of cork oaks. After covering another short stretch of paved section along Via Trionfale, we enter another large urban park, the Monte Mario Reserve. Here, thanks to a convenient and well-marked path, we continue uphill and downhill until we reach a belvedere which repays us for the effort made by offering a unique and panoramic view of Rome. Further on, we can begin to make out the dome of St. Peter's, which can be reached by again walking along a section of the Via Trionfale.
24 km, altitude gain +300 m, about 7 hours
