Rome, Italy
Via Francigena
The old walking route from Canterbury to Rome. A traveller wrote down every stop in the year 990, and you can still follow it.
Biblical significance
Two thousand kilometres from Canterbury through France and Switzerland over the Great St Bernard Pass and down the spine of Italy to St Peter's. The Tuscan section through San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and Siena is the most walked. Sigeric's list of 79 overnight stops, recorded on his return from receiving the pallium, is the oldest surviving guide to the route.
Scripture
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Best time to go
April-June and September-October.
Visitor notes
Waymarked with pilgrim symbols. The Tuscan stretch has the best infrastructure; France requires more planning.
Coordinates
41.9022, 12.4539
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