Full Italian Via Francigena: Bourg St Pierre-Rome
50 Days & 49 Nights 5 Read 1 reviews- Walking the Italian Via Francigena, one of Europe's great pilgrimages
- Beautiful landscapes, churches, towns and villages
- Savouring regional specialities; wine, pasta, cheese and cured meats and cheeses
- Becoming immersed in the culture and history of each region
- Follow trails through classic Italian landscapes and visit exquisite towns
What To Expect
Tour Style:
Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent tour.
Activity:
Pilgrim Trail | You will follow a historic pilgrimage trail, in the footsteps of generations of travelers
This trip is suitable for:
Avid Adventurers
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Personal Growth
- Historical Journeys
- Mountains
Inspiration:
Activity Level & Terrain
This walking holiday is graded moderate overall. However the daily distances vary quite a lot between shorter and a lot longer ones, so you must be capable of also walking the longer distances. You need to be in good physical shape to complete the full Via Francigena as there are also some elevation gains and losses along the way.
Navigation
You will be provided with detailed route notes and maps to help you find your way. As always when walking you should be able to read a map and use a compass in case of bad weather. The trail is also marked by the official red and white signs of the Via Francigena, which have a picture of a yellow pilgrim on them. However these waymarks will not appear all along the way but intermittently.
Unlike many of the more well-established Caminos, the Via Francigena has seen a relatively recent resurgence in popularity, meaning that trail marking is intermittent (not every region has invested in consistently waymarking the trail), and you should be confident in navigating with a compass and map, as well as using the route notes that we will provide you with. A few of the original sections of the Via Francigena are now (fairly busy) roads, and where necessary you may either follow these roads for a short time, or divert away from the traditional route to enjoy a more relaxed walk.
Accommodations
During your Via Francigena self-guided walking tour in Italy you will stay in a variety of accommodations. The properties range from private rooms in pilgrim's hostels, 2, 3 and 4* hotels as well as B&Bs and guesthouses. At times you will be staying in remote towns and villages, therefore the accommodation in these places are the best that these particular areas have to offer.
Alternate accommodation
During the high season you might be booked into alternative accommodations which are not listed in the description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard as those described.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. Solo walkers are also welcome and again a supplement is payable.
Meals
Daily breakfasts are included. Breakfasts are usually continental or Italian-style with a choice of breads, croissants, meats and cheeses. Sometimes it is possible to order packed lunches at your hotel or B&B the evening before or you can buy lunch in groceries, cafes and restaurants en route.You can opt to include dinners as well if you wish.
- Overnights in a variety of accommodations
- Breakfasts included
- Detailed maps and routes notes and a comprehensive information pack
- Transfers where mentioned in the itinerary
- Emergency telephone assistance from our team in Italy and our UK office if required
- Travel to and from the start and finish points
- Public transportation where mentioned in the itinerary
- Lunches & dinners
- Drinks & snacks
- Any additional travel en route, should you wish to miss a day's walking
- Baggage transfers
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance
- Mountain rescue / emergency assistance
- Additional nights before, after or during the trip
- Baggage Transfers
- Half board supplement
When To Go
This trip is best enjoyed from mid-June onwards as the first section crosses the Alps and snow can still be on the ground up until July. Summer is a wonderful time to do the trip but it will be hot in August. Autumn is a lovely time of time of year as the colours start to change and the heat of the summer has subsided. Available from mid-June to mid-September.
Getting to the Start
The best airport to fly into in order to reach Bourg St Pierre is Geneva. This airport is served by many airlines from the UK and from further afield. From Geneva Airport it is possible to take a direct train to Martigny and then a bus from the train station in Martigny to Bourg St Pierre. You will find information regarding train schedules and fares at the Swiss National Rail or Trenitalia website.
Getting from the End
It is best to fly out of Rome. There are two main airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino. To get to Fiumicino Airport you can either take the Leonardo Express train which leaves Rome Termini and takes 30 minutes or you can take the Sabina-Fiumicino line which stops at every station but costs less. To get to Ciampino Airport take train from Rome Termini to Ciampino Train Station and then a bus from here to the airport.
Luggage Transfer
Baggage transfers are not included as standard, however you can pay an additional fee for this service. If you choose to include baggage transfers we request that you have only one piece of luggage per person and it should weigh only 20kg.
General Information
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and trousers), sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Bourg-Saint-Pierre Day 2 Bourg-Saint-Pierre to Great St Bernard Pass 7 miles / 12 km Day 3 Great St Bernard Pass to Etroubles 8 miles / 13 km Day 4 Etroubles to Aosta 10 miles / 16 km Day 5 Aosta to Chambave 17 miles / 28 km Day 6 Chambave to Verres 17 miles / 27 km Day 7 Verres to Pont-Saint-Martin 9 miles / 15 km Day 8 Pont-Saint-Martin to Ivrea 16 miles / 26 km Day 9 Ivrea to Viverone 14 miles / 23 km Day 10 Viverone to Santhia 11 miles / 17 km Day 11 Santhia to Vercelli 19 miles / 30 km Day 12 Walk to Robbio, train to Mortara 14 miles / 22 km Day 13 Montara to Garlasco 15 miles / 24 km Day 14 Garlasco to Pavia 16 miles / 26 km Day 15 Pavia to Santa Cristina 17 miles / 28 km Day 16 Transfer to Lambrinia, walk to Piacenza 12 miles / 20 km Day 17 Piacenza to Carpaneto 14 miles / 23 km Day 18 Carpaneto to Castell'Arquato 9 miles / 14 km Day 19 Castell'Arquato to Fidenza 12 miles / 20 km Day 20 Fidenza to Fornovo 20 miles / 32 km Day 21 Fornovo to Cassio 13 miles / 21 km Day 22 Cassio to Berceto 7 miles / 11 km Day 23 Berceto to Montelungo 9 miles / 14 km Day 24 Montelungo to Pontremoli 11 miles / 17 km Day 25 Pontremoli to Aulla 21 miles / 33 km Day 26 Aulla to Sarzana 11 miles / 17 km Day 27 Sarzana to Massa 15 miles / 24 km Day 28 Massa to Camaiore 15 miles / 24 km Day 29 Camaiore to Lucca 19 miles / 30 km Day 30 Lucca to Altopascio 11 miles / 18 km Day 31 Altopascio to San Miniato 11 miles / 17 km Day 32 San Miniato to Gambassi Terme 15 miles / 24 km Day 33 Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano 9 miles / 14 km Day 34 San Gimignano to Monteriggioni 18 miles / 29 km Day 35 Monteriggioni to Siena 11 miles / 17 km Day 36 Siena to Grancia de Cuna, transfer to Buonconvento 11 miles / 18 km Day 37 Buonconvento to San Quirico d’Orcia 15 miles / 24 km Day 38 San Quirico d’Orcia to Castelnuovo dell’Abate 9 miles / 14 km Day 39 Castelnuovo dell’Abate to Rocca d’Orcia 12 miles / 19 km Day 40 Rocca d’Orcia to Radicofani 17 miles / 27 km Day 41 Radicofani to Proceno 16 miles / 25 km Day 42 Proceno to Bolsena 19 miles / 30 km Day 43 Bolsena to Montefiascone 7 miles / 12 km Day 44 Montefiascone to Viterbo 11 miles / 18 km Day 45 Viterbo to Caprarola 11 miles / 18 km Day 46 Caprarola to Sutri 10 miles / 16 km Day 47 Sutri to Campagnano di Roma 15 miles / 24 km Day 48 Campagnano di Roma to Isola Farnese 13 miles / 21 km Day 49 Isola Farnese to Rome 16 miles / 25 km Day 50 Onward TravelThe Macs Way
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