Via Francigena from Lucca to Rome

Like all the stages that precede or follow a medium / large city, you have to walk for 18.5 km mainly on asphalt, and not much on the paths.

The path inside the walls of Lucca is very interesting and then the asphalted stretch on the ancient Via Romana that crosses the areas of Capannori, Porcari and Turchetto and then arrives in Altopascio.

A stage without slopes that takes about 4/5 hours of walking, with the possibility of having all the services of a city nearby, therefore shops, bars, banks, small supermarkets.
There are only two small stretches of dirt road immediately after Turchetto, up to the Badia di San Pietro a Pozzoveri.

You can therefore take the opportunity to visit the Parish Church of San Quirico and Giuditta, the Abbey of San Pietro in Pozzeveri and, upon arrival in Altopascio, the Church of San Jacopo.

A fairly significant stage especially for the distance of 29 km, considering the differences in height. The last climb for the arrival in San Miniato Alto is certainly challenging.

The walk of about 7/8 hours develops through countryside, woods and small villages.

A first part on the asphalt to leave Altopascio, to then enter the countryside, arriving in the Cerbaie and Padule di Fucecchio Reserve, famous for its bio-diversity.

There are three inhabited centers where you can refuel and stop for short stops, Galleno, Ponte a Cappiano and Fucecchio.

The uphill arrival in San Miniato Alto gives the opportunity to visit the Tower of Matilde, the Fortress of Frederick II and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Genesio.

A stage immersed in the Tuscan nature, to be covered in about 6 hours, through paths and unforgettable landscapes.

The only difference in height more decided is that at the end of the stage that leads from Borgoforte to Gambassi, starting from 80 meters high and arriving to exceed 300 meters at the arrival.

A stage through the beautiful Tuscan hills that makes the miles to cover a real walk in nature.
An almost physiological stop is the one at Pieve di Coiano, which represents a perfect resting point in the middle of the route.

There are many vineyards and breathtaking views.

Shortly before the arrival, there is the Pieve di Santa Maria in Chianni, where you can take a few minutes to visit and take some pictures while facing the final climb.

We must not forget that at the arrival in Gambassi there are the thermal baths!

Perhaps the most Tuscan stage of Tuscany!
The hills, the roads with cypresses, the vineyards, the ancient farmhouses, emblems famous all over the world, that make Tuscany one of the most visited places by tourists!

A short stage, less than 14 km, but that you have to go through dedicating all the time necessary to admire every view.

The Sanctuary of Pancole and the Pieve di Cellole, along the way, are moments for a visit and a stop.

Then the arrival in San Gimignano, full of tourists, restaurants, and always very scenic for its alleys and towers.

The few kilometers traveled allow a thorough visit of San Gimignano and its historic center.

An intermediate stage that allows you to divide the main stage (from San Gimignano to Monteriggioni) into two days, having the opportunity to stop in the magnificent Colle Val d’Elsa.

The first part of the route to Molino d’Aiano is the same as the single stage.

After crossing the Foci stream you find yourself in front of a crossroads: continuing to the right you follow the original stage, heading left you choose the Variante towards Colle Val d’Elsa.

A short stage, about 11 km long, which leaves time for a visit to Colle Val d’Elsa

It starts with one of the strengths of the passage from Colle Val d’Elsa, the variant of the route: instead of walking along the town road, you go down to the Elsa River Park.

An unexpected path, next to the Elsa river, with its turquoise waters that will have to be crossed several times.

The recommended route is the one that rejoins the Caldane thermal baths, where you can take a beautiful bath (remember to bring your bathing suit!).

After Strove and Abbadia Isola you arrive in a spectacular straight line with a view of the Monteriggioni Castle in front.
With the last climb you enter the walls from the San Giovanni gate, then arriving in Piazza Roma in front of the church of Santa Maria Assunta.

In all the stages of arrival or departure from a larger city the final stretch of arrival in Siena is paved, but the arrival in Siena is truly amazing!

The departure from Monteriggioni with the climb up the hill of Borgo Gallinaio leaves you breathless, the view of Monteriggioni behind is unique.

Have you ever heard of the color “Terra di Siena”?
In this stage is the predominant color, you walk inside this incredible color!

Along the way don’t miss the Castello della Chiocciola.

The arrival in Siena in a long final climb, leads to the historic center and the famous Piazza del Campo.

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!!