Via Francigena

The Via Francigena (the Road from France) is an ancient pilgrim route stretching across Europe from Canterbury, England, through France and Switzerland before culminating in Rome, Italy. In places, the Via Francigena may be multiple paths but generally follows the route taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sigeric the Serious to Rome, which pilgrims have followed for hundreds of years to the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul in the Holy See.

These articles are intended to assist pilgrims as they plan their pilgrimages, including recommended gear, tips, and key learnings gathered from my own journey, as well as hiking experiences on the Appalachian Trail, the Florida Trail, and the Camino de Santiago.

A Beginners Guide to the Via Francigena

One of the oldest published pilgrimage routes in Europe, the Via Francigena is largely overshadowed by the more popular Camino de Santiago through Spain. Following the historic route recorded by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sigeric the Serious, to present himself to the Pope John XB in 990 AD, the Via Francigena takes pilgrims from England through France and Switzerland before culminating in Rome, Italy Walking the Via Francigena: The Route Unlike the Camino de Santiago and its many paths to Santiago de Compostela, the Via Francigena has one singular starting point: ...

Key Differences Between the Camino de Santiago and Via Francigena

It is important for pilgrims to know that the Via Francigena is completely unlike the Camino de Santiago in many ways. Beyond the obvious difference in distance, the Via Francigena is a more European route. The customs and languages are much more varied and there is truly no "common tongue" along the way. A good two-way translation app, such as Microsoft Translator (iOS/Android) or Google Translate (iOS/Android), as well as a willingness to learn courtesy expressions in English, French, German and Italian are recommended. Another key difference is far fewer ...