Since 990 AD
The Via Francigena
One thousand years of pilgrims, prayers, and footsteps across four countries.
The Route
The Via Francigena stretches approximately 1,900 kilometres from the door of Canterbury Cathedral in England to St Peter's Basilica in Rome. It passes through four countries, crosses the English Channel by ferry, traverses the plains of Northern France, climbs over the Alps at the Great St Bernard Pass (2,473 m), descends through the Aosta Valley, crosses the Po Plain, and winds through Tuscany and Lazio before reaching the Eternal City.
🇬🇧 England
~160 km
Canterbury to Dover across the North Downs of Kent
🇫🇷 France
~1,000 km
Calais through Reims, Laon, Bar-sur-Aube, Besançon to the Swiss border
🇨🇭 Switzerland
~200 km
Lausanne, Martigny, the Great St Bernard Pass
🇮🇹 Italy
~1,000 km
Aosta, the Po Plain, the Apennines, Tuscany, Lazio, Rome
A Thousand Years of History
Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury makes the pilgrimage to Rome and records 79 stops on his return journey — the first guidebook to the route.
At its peak, tens of thousands of pilgrims travel the Via Francigena each year, and a vast network of hospices, monasteries and bridges is built to support them.
Industrialisation and modern transport nearly erase the route, which falls into disuse and is largely forgotten.
The Council of Europe designates the Via Francigena a Major Cultural Route of Europe, sparking a revival of interest.
The route is officially mapped and signposted by the AEVF (European Association of the Via Francigena).
Thousands of pilgrims walk sections of the route each year, with numbers growing rapidly every season.
The Pilgrim Credential
The credenziale del pellegrino (pilgrim credential or passport) is the official document that identifies you as a pilgrim on the Via Francigena. You collect stamps (timbri) at churches, hospices, and pilgrim offices along the route.
On arrival in Rome, if you have walked at least the last 100 kilometres (or cycled the last 200), you can present your stamped credential at the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi near the Vatican and receive the Testimonium — the official certificate of completion.
We provide you with an official credential at the start of every tour.
Ready to Walk?
Choose from a short 3-day introduction to the full Canterbury-to-Rome pilgrimage. All tours include luggage transfer, official credential, and expert local guides.
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