Via Francigena from Siena to Rome

The exit from Siena is not what one would expect, except for a small crossing of the industrial area, which has little effect on the beauty of this stage.

The entire first part of the route is characterized by a view of the Siena countryside, which accompanies the entire Strada della Certosa.

You follow the path of the railway, but after passing Isola d’Arbia and Grancia di Cuna you go up towards the hills that line the valley, with a view of land almost always cultivated with wheat that accompanies you along the way.

After the descent to Quinciano, you will find the crossroads that leads to a few meters from Lucignano d’Arbia.

A shorter stage, which takes 4/5 hours to walk, which leads into the Val d’Orcia.

Here the breathtaking landscapes typical of the Val d’Orcia begin, starting with a long straight road in the countryside that runs alongside the railway, which then leads to Ponte d’Arbia.

The crossing of the Arbia river on the new Ponte del Pellegrino, and then the route continues climbing the hills, with rows of cypresses and enchanting paths.

The arrival in Buonconvento is characteristic, you pass in front of the small cemetery and crossing the Via Cassia you will find yourself in front of the ancient walls of the town.

A medieval historic center that develops around the Church of San Pietro e Paolo, and its 7 towers.

Buonconvento is an excellent starting point for those who want to start walking the Via Francigena in the Val d’Orcia, with the train station right in front of the entrance to the historic center.

After a small part of the path that runs along the side streets of the Via Cassia just outside Buonconvento, cross the Via Cassia and start walking next to the vineyards of the production of the famous Montalcino wine.

Throughout the stage you can see Montalcino at the top of the hill, on the right, which accompanies with its gaze the important vineyards that produce good wine and where you can stop and taste both wine and Tuscan delicacies.
After passing through the small village of Torrinieri, you walk along some asphalted but little traffic paths that lead to San Quirico d’Orcia, one of the pearls of the Val d’Orcia.

Are you ready to leave for one of the most famous stages, with one of the most strenuous arrivals of the Via Francigena?
This stage is not only over 32km long, but has an elevation gain of 950m!

After a first part of the stage during which you descend towards Bagno Vignoni, where the ancient Roman baths are located, you cross the Orcia river and begin a first climb towards Castiglion d’Orcia, from where you should not continue without visiting the Rocca di Castiglione, where you can climb to enjoy the view over the valley.

From Castiglione it goes down to Gallina and Bagni San Filippo, with its Roman baths with free admission.

We need to recover our strength well here, as the final kilometers that lead to Radicofani begin, all uphill.

Once in Radicofani only with a lot of willpower, you can decide to go to the top to visit the Fortress, with its view over the valley.

A downhill stage, surely it should be defined in a few words.

It starts from 780 meters high in Radicofani and arrives in Acquapendente with a continuous descent up to 2 km from the arrival, where the climb to Acquapendente has a difference in height of just over 100 meters.

A long stage, with a big initial descent with a rapt gaze from the valley where Tuscany gives way to Lazio.

Once in Ponte a Rigo, a flat stretch begins on the Tuscan and Lazio countryside, also crossing the ghost town of Centeno.

Proceno is not located right on the path of the Via Francigena, but 4 km before the arrival in Acquapendente and you can, with a small detour, go through the Porta del Pellegrino.

Acquapendente, the first town in Lazio, with a delightful historic center awaits the arrival of walkers with all the comforts.

The first step of the Via Francigena in Lazio begins with Lake Bolsena.
After a first stretch of walking in the Lazio countryside, with fields of wheat and sunflowers, you arrive at San Lorenzo Nuovo.

Here you have the opportunity to make a small stop and relax on a terrace overlooking the lake of Bolsena.

It is only the first glimpse along the descent from San Lorenzo Nuovo towards the lake, and many others will follow.

You walk along paths in the woods and hills overlooking the lakefront.
The arrival in Bolsena points directly to the Castle, next to which you descend to access through the Porta Fiorentina to the historic center within the walls.

Definitely not to be missed are the Church of San Francesco, the Collegiata, and the Catacombs of Santa Cristina.

The whole stage runs alongside Lake Bolsena.

A path through the hills and woods that follow one another, in a continuous climb, for a total difference in height of over 500 meters.

Fatigue is certainly felt upon arrival, given that the part of the final access to is the hardest part.

Leaving Bolsena, one enters the heights of the Volsini Mountains, and the Turona Archaeological Park, where some Etruscan tombs have been found.

Entering Montefiascone there are two pieces of information we have:
1. Which is a city of wine, so let’s find out the story of the Bishop and the meaning of the name of the famous wine “East, East, East”,
2. That arriving at the walls of the historic center of Montefiascone, a few meters before the arrival in the Rocca dei Papi Park, we are exactly 100 km from the arrival in Rome.

On the terrace of the Rocca dei Papi Park awaits the statue of the Pilgrim, and behind him the breathtaking view of Lake Bolsena that greets us.

A quick stage, just over 18 km, which takes 4/5 hours, all downhill towards Viterbo.

The descent is in the first part of the stage, where you walk both on dirt roads and on an ancient Roman paving, it is very fast and leads to an almost completely flat path.

Also in this stage we remember to put the swimsuit in the backpack, as halfway through the journey there is the Baths of Bagnaccio, where the water gushes out in 6 different pools, at 63 °.

Like all large cities, the peripheral part of Viterbo does not offer the best landscape, but the stretch is short and the entrance inside the walls from Porta Fiorentina will give access to the City of the Popes, where the first conclave in history took place in the Middle Ages.

The path that leads from Piazza del Plebiscito towards the exit from the walls of Porta di Valle passes through the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and Palazzo dei Papi.

Leaving the walls, walk along the suggestive Strada del Signorino, carved into the rock by the Etruscans.

Through dirt roads you skirt the highway, which however does not detract from the view of the evocative landscape of the Etruscan countryside.

You then cross expanses of olive groves, arriving at a picnic area, a few hundred meters before crossing the Via Cassia.

Continuing to walk among the olive trees, from which the famous oil is produced, we arrive at Vetralla.

A stage divided between a first part uphill and a second downhill towards Sutri.
The first part is walking on roads of little interest near Vetralla , to then enter the path of Monte Fogliano, a magnificent oak forest.

You proceed walking through expanses of hazelnut trees, and the Towers of Orlando, just before entering the splendid Capranica, which you cross passing through the charming historic center.

Leaving Capranica, the path leads back to the woods, where you walk along the stream until you arrive at the Archaeological Park of Sutri.

A stage of 23km that must be faced by dosing your strength, which will then be used upon arrival to visit the beautiful Archaeological Park of Sutri, with its Roman tuff amphitheater from the 2nd century BC, and the Cathedral with its very high bell tower.

Another stage with a nice uphill finish, but short and fast.

One of the tips for this stage is to bring your bathing suit here too, to use for a refreshing swim in the Monte Gelato waterfalls.
Attention, these are not spas with hot waters, the name explains well the temperature of the water that awaits you ….

Leaving Sutri you walk among hazelnut and olive groves crossing a splendid golf course, to then arrive in Monterosi.

Excellent refreshment point to then resume walking in the countryside and arrive at the Parco della Valle del Treja, with the Montegelato waterfalls, and refreshment area.

From here, through paths immersed in the oak woods and the Roman countryside, we arrive at Campagnano di Roma.

A walk in the Vejo Park, this is the right definition for this stage of the Via Francigena.

You leave Campagnano and immediately find yourself facing a climb that leads to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sorbo.

Continue in the Vejo Park, and with a small detour you can admire the Falls of Hell, just before entering Formello.

We pass in the historic center of Formello and then resume the path between the paths of the Veio Park and get to walk in the Archaeological Park with the Etruscan tombs and the Mola Vecchia, a small waterfall before the entrance to the village of Isola Farnese.

From here only asphalted road to the Church of the Sacred Heart of La Storta ….
We have arrived at the gates of Rome!

We expect a stage on the outskirts of Rome, all asphalted, but this stage is surprising.
The last stage that takes us to the Vatican is rich in nature.

After the first 4 km in which you walk on the sidewalk of the Via Cassia, you enter the Insugherata Park.
You leave the road and it seems to be many km away from the center of Rome, instead you cross the city inside this park, exit in the Trionfale area, and after a 4 km city walk you enter the Monte Mario Park.

One of the most beautiful views of Rome towards the Vatican welcomes us in all its beauty.

From this moment on, you can walk along the streets of the center of Rome that lead to St. Peter’s Square.

Welcome to Rome!!