
Rome, Italy
Via Francigena
Sigeric the Serious walked home from Rome to Canterbury in 990 and wrote down every stop — the itinerary is still walkable.
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
On the map
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