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THE
VIA
FRANCIGENA
A
walking tour of 1-8 stages, from the Swiss Alps to Rome
The name Via Francigena or
Francesca comes from the fact that this route was an ancient way of
connection with the
Alps
, namely France. In fact, pilgrims came from France from the Via Tolosana, leading to Santiago de
Compostela, and from Northern
Europe. They crossed the
Alps through Monginevro, Moncenisio and the Great St. Bernard Pass(only later they started to use also eastern
passes such as the Gotthard, the Simplon and the Brenner); then they
went down to the Po Valley, and then crossed (at Parma) the Apennines. From
the Pass of Monte Bardone they arrived to Tuscany.
After major centres like Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena, Bolsena, Viterbo, they got to the final
destination of their pilgrimage: Rome. For many centuries,
pilgrims have travelled on paths of faith, looking for relief and
spiritual support in the three places, symbols of Christianity and main
destinations for pilgrimages: Santiago de Compostela (in the North of
Spain), Rome (in Italy) and Jerusalem.
The route of Pilgrimage
towards Rome, or Via Francigena, maintained its identity
throughout the Middle Ages. Today, the Via Francigena includes different
trails, which have changed over the centuries. As the number of pilgrims
travelling to Rome increased, abbeys, monasteries, churches, cathedrals
and religious shrines were built, in places where important relics were
kept and where miracles or apparitions had happened: in this way,
pilgrims were encouraged and supported all along the way.
Today, in the third
millennium, we get the inheritance of our ancestors: it is now possible
to walk along the same way travellers used to walk in the middle Ages.
You walk along unspoilt paths, following an itinerary with overnights in
2 and 3 star Hotels or B&B, hostels or farm hotels (as an
alternative country houses, guesthouses or inns). You can book the whole
package B&B or Half board with luggage transportation or just
B&B package without luggage transportation. The journey is divided
into several weeks, walking trails and itineraries are of medium
difficulty: from the Alps, near the Swiss border, then down to the Cinque Terre, through
Tuscany and the Apennines up to St. Peter’s square
and the Vatican in Rome.
This wonderful adventure
will make you learn more about history and share the joy of pilgrims of
the Middle Ages, imagine their efforts and their deep devotion. You can
follow different and various paths which connect cities and little
villages, great cathedrals, churches and ancient monuments. Fields,
endless meadows, fertile valleys, paths along the coast, vineyards, and
then the unique landscape of Crete in Tuscany, before you reach magnificent Rome, the eternal city, just like millions of
pilgrims did in the past, and the sacred tomb of St. Peter. You will
learn that the worldwide famous saying “all roads lead to Rome” is really true.
THE
HISTORY OF THE VIA FRANCIGENA
The Via di Roma was
formerly known as Iter Francorum, later Via Francigena. It was described
for the first time in the Actum Clusio, a parchment preserved in the Abbey
of San Salvatore on Mount Amiata in 876. At the end of the 10th century,
Sigeric, the Bishop of Canterbury, walked the Via Francigena up to Rome to be blessed by the Pope. Sigeric is the
first pilgrim we have evidence of and we have several documents witnessing
this: when he got back to Canterbury, he wrote a diary, where he described the
whole route with several stretches and stops; later the idea of the Via
Francigena as an itinerary from Canterbury to Rome has developed. With the proclamation of the Holy Year in 1300, the Via Francigena
started to be walked by thousands of pilgrims and wanderers. In the 17th
century, the way was not so popular anymore if compared to the St. James Way, which has always been very popular and today
it is still a very important pilgrimage route on foot, by bike or on
horseback.Today, the official Via
Francigena goes faithfully along the steps of Sigeric; however, in the
past, pilgrims came from all over Europe, from different directions;
many came from Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France and of course
from England. Many crossed the border from different passes, such as the
St. Bernard pass or the Monginevro, and then they walked through
Ventimiglia and Genoa following a trail along the coast. Some of
them came from the sea to the harbour of Luni, south of Sarzana, near the Cinque Terre and
the Tuscan coast.
In 1994 the Via Francigena – just like the St. James Way, which
attracts over 200,000 pilgrims, walkers and cyclists a year, was
declared as a Cultural European Path by the European Council. Unlike the
St. James Way, the Via Francigena is starting now to be discovered:
it is the least travelled pilgrimage route; however, the number of
pilgrims is gradually increasing. The original Via
Francigena follows mostly ancient Roman Routes: the Aurelia and the
Cassia, which are now busy roads and highways. Where necessary, there
are alternative routes or paths (or quiet secondary roads, when other
alternatives are not possible) and even parts of the ancient Via
Francigena (before Sigeric), including centres of historic and artistic
interest along the way.
Programmes of the stages in short
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STAGE
1 FROM
BOURG ST.PIERRE
TO PONT S.MARTIN
(from 15 June to 15 September
2019) **
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Day
1
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Individual
arrival at
Bourg St. Pierre (CH)
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Day
2
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From Bourg St. Pierre to San Bernardo-pass
Distance: 11,4 km; Walking time: 4,5 hrs;
Ascent & Descent: +850 m. -100 m
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Day
3
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From
San Bernardo
to
Etroubles
Distance: 13 km;
Walking time: 4,5 hr; Ascent & Descent: +35 m. -1232 m.
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Day
4
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From
Etroubles to
Aosta
Distance: 15,8 km;
Walking time: 5 hr; Ascent & Descent: +85 m. -825 m.
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Day
5
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From
Aosta to
Chambave
Distance: 27,5 km;
Walking Time: 8 hr ;Ascent & Descent: +540 m. -590 m.
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Day
6
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From
Chatillon a Verres
Distance: 27,1 km;
Walking time: 8 hr; Ascent & Descent: +450 m. -550 m.
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Day
7
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From
Verres to
Pont S. Martin
Distance: 14,5 km;
Walking time: 5 hr; Ascent & Descent: +750 m. -800 m.
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Day
8
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Departure or continue
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STAGE
2 FROM
PONT
S. MARTIN
TO
GARLASCO (from
15 April to 15 October 2019)
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Day
1
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Individual
arrival at Pont S. Martin (345 m.)
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Day
2
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From
Pont S. Martin to
Ivrea (253m)
Distance: 26 km;
Walking Time: 7 hr; Ascent & Descent: +368 m. -455 m.
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Day
3
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From
Ivrea to
Viverone (287m)
Distance: 22,7 km;
Walking time: 6 hr; Ascent & Descent: +213 m. -165 m.
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Day
4
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From
Viverone to
Santhià (183m)
Distance: 16,7 km;
Walking time: 5 hr; Ascent & Descent: +61 m. -183 m.
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Day
5
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From
Santhià to
Vercelli (130m)
Distance: 30 km;
Walking time: 8 hr; Ascent & Descent: +26 m. -79 m.
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Day
6
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From
Vercelli to
Robbio (120m)
Distance: 22 km;
Walking time: 5 hr + transfer by train from Robbio to Mortara;
Ascent & Descent: +38 m. -120 m.
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Day
7
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From
Mortara
to
Garlasco (108m)
Distance: 23,6 km;
Walking time: 5,5 hr; Ascent & Descent:
+17 m. -34 m.
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Day
8
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Departure or continue
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STAGE
3 FROM
GARLASCO
TO
FIDENZA
(from 15 April to 15 October 2019) **
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Day
1
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Individual
arrival at
Garlasco
(93 M)
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Day
2
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From Garlasco to
Pavia
Distance: 25,4 km; Walking time: about 7
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 17m.
-108m
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Day
3
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From Pavia
to
Miradolo Terme (71m)
Distance: 28 km;
Walking time: about 8
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 46m.
-42 m.
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Day
4
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From Miradolo Terme to
Piacenza
Distance: 20 km;
Walking time: about 5
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 30m.
-32 m.
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Day
5
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From Piacenza
to
Carpaneto (80m)
Distance: 22.5 km;
Walking time: about 5
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 44m.
-33 m.
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Day
6
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From Carpaneto to Castellarquato (57m)
Distance: 14 km;
Walking time: about 4
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 30m.
-32 m.
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Day
7
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From Castellarquato to Fidenza
Distance: 20 km;
Walking time: about 5,5
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 24m.
-48m.
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Day
8
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Departure or continue
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STAGE
4 FROM
FIDENZA TO AULLA
(from 1 May al 30 September 2019) **
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Day
1
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Individual
arrival
in Fidenza
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Day
2
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From Fidenza to Fornovo
Distance: 31,7 km;
Walking time: about 8,5
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 500m
-400m
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Day
3
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From Fornovo
to Cassio
Distance: 20,8 km;
Walking time: about 5 hours; Ascent
/ Descent: + 760m. -300m
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Day
4
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From Cassio to Berceto
Distance: 10,6 km;
Walking time: about 3,5
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 300m.
-250m
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Day
5
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From
Berceto a Montelungo
Distance: 13,4 km;
Walking time 4,5 hours; Ascent/Descent: +650 m. -510 m.
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Day
6
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From
Montelungo to Pontremoli
Distance: 17 km;
Walking time: about 5
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 250m.
-790m
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Day
7
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From Pontremoli to Aulla
Distance: 33 km;
Walking time: about 8,5
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 100m.
-200m
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Day
8
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Departure or continue
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STAGE
5 FROM
AULLA
TO SAN
MINIATO (from
15 April to 15 October 2019) **
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Day
1
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Individual
arrival in
Aulla
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Day
2
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From Aulla to Sarzana
Distance: 17 km;
Walking time: about 5,5
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 605m.
–660m
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Day
3
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From Sarzana to Massa
Distance: 24 km;
Walking time: about 7
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 330m.
-260m
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Day
4
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From Massa
to
Camaiore
Distance: 25 km;
Walking time: about 7
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 330m.
-340m
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Day
5
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From Camaiore to Lucca
Distance: 26 km;
Walking time: about 6
hours; Ascent / Descent: + 270m.
-300m
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Day
6
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From Lucca to Altopascio Distance:
16 km Walking time: about 4,5 hours Ascent / Descent: + 15m. -14m
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Day 7
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From Altopascio to San Miniato
Distance: 27 km Walking time: about 7,5 hours
Ascent / Descent: + 252m. -116m
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Day
8
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Departure
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STAGE
6 FROM
SAN MINIATO
TO
SAN QUIRICO D’ORCIA (from
15 April to 15 October 2019) **
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Day
1
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Individual
arrival in San
Miniato
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Day
2
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From
San Miniato to Gambassi
Terme
Distance: 24 km Walking time:
about 6,5 hours Ascent / Descent: + 415m. -232m
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Day
3
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From
Gambassi
Terme to San Gimignano
Distance: 13,5 km Walking time: about 3,5 hours
Ascent / Descent: + 380m. -382m
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Day
4
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From San Gimignano to
Monteriggioni
Distance: 29 km Walking time: about 8 hours Ascent
/ Descent: + 462m. -521m
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Day
5
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From Monteriggioni to
Siena
Distance: 21 km Walking time: about 5,5 hours
Ascent / Descent: + 307m. -257m
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Day
6
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From Siena to Grancia + Transfer to Buonconvento
Distance: 18,2 km Walking time: about 5 hours
Ascent / Descent: + 100m. -30m
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Day
7
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From Buonconvento to San
Quirico d'Orcia
Distance: 23,6 km Walking time: about 6,5 hours
Ascent / Descent: + 570m. -280m
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Day
8
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Departure
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STAGE
7 FROM
SAN
QUIRICO D'ORCIA TO MONTEFIASCONE
(from
1 April to 20 October 2019) **
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Day
1
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Individual
arrival
in San
Quirico d'Orcia
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Day
2
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From San Quirico d'Orcia
to Castelnuovo dell'Abate
Distance: 13,5 km Walking
time: about 4 hours.
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Day
3
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From Castelnuovo dell'Abate
to Rocca d'Orcia
Distance: 19 km Walking time: about 5,5 hours
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Day
4
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Day 4: From Rocca d'Orcia to Radicofani
Distance: 27 km Walking time: about 7 hours Ascent
/ Descent: + 380m. -382m
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Day
5
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From Radicofani to
Proceno
Distance: 23,6 km Walking time: about 6,5 hours
Ascent / Descent: + 202m. -591m
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Day
6
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From Proceno to
Bolsena
Distance: 23 km Walking time: about 7 hours Ascent
/ Descent: + 219m. -291m
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Day
7
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From Bolsena to
Montefiascone
Distance: 17,7 km Walking time: about 5 hours
Ascent / Descent: + 583m. -269m
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Day 8
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Departure
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STAGE
8 FROM
MONTEFIASCONE
TO
ROME
(from 15 April to 30 October 2019) **
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Day
1
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Individual
arrival
in
Montefiascone
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| Day
2
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From Montefiascone to
Viterbo
Distance: 17,8 km Walking time: about 5,5 hours
Ascent / Descent: + 87m. -393m
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Day
3
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From Viterbo to
Caprarola
Distance: 18 km Walking time: about 6 hours
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Day
4
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From Caprarola to
Sutri
Distance: 16,3 km Walking
time: about 5 hours
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Day
5
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From Sutri to
Campagnano
Distance: 27 km Walking time: about 7 hours Ascent
/ Descent: + 244m. -251m
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Day
6
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From Campagnano to Isola
Farnese
Distance: 24 km; Walking time: about 6 hours; Ascent
/ Descent: + 359m. -466m
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Day 7
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From
Isola Farnese To Rome
Distance; 24 km; Walking time: about 7 hours;
ascent/descent:
+44 m. -195 m
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Day
8
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Departure
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Included
in the tour of a week:
-
7 nights with breakfast
-
5 x
dinners if booked for the half board version
-
Clients
assistance
-
Route
instructions and maps
(in Italian, English, French or German)
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If
booked for this service: luggage transportation
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Tour
Information
* Tourist tax is never
included in the rates and the amount varies from town to town.
**As for the various stages,
upon request it is possible to divide them in a different way: longer or
shorter stretches.
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Dates
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Dates vary according to
the week (or weeks) you choose. If you wish to walk the whole Via
Francigena, dates go from 15th June to 15th September (in other
periods mountain trails and passes are closed). Departure day:
any. Dates are specified for each week.
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Level
3/4
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From medium to difficult.
Daily itineraries vary a lot: routes are on mountains,
on hilly areas, on plains, according to the week chosen. For
experienced walkers in good physical condition. You walk also on
mountain trails Daily distances go from 11 km (minimum) to 31 km
(maximum).
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Price
p.p
2019* |
Week
1: In
double room € 515
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Week 2: In
double room € 515
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Week
3: In double room € 515
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Week
4: In double room € 515
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Week 5:
In double room
€
515
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Week 6: In
double room €
520
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Week
7: In double room €
515
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Week 8: In double room €
520
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Supplement
in single room € 130
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Supplement
solo traveller (any stage): €
280
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Supplement
half board (5 dinners) € 130 |
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Supplement luggage transportation €
130
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Supplement luggage transportation
for solo traveller €
220
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On request
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Extra
nights, Tracks for Gps
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Please
contact us if you would like to receive more information
!
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