Meaning of via francigena as a European cultural itinerary, when this fascinating journey was born, traveled by pilgrims animated by religious faith over the centuries and how many days it lasts.
Paths of the Via Francigena
The Via Francigena was one of the major communication routes in the Middle Ages, the path of a pilgrimage that led from Canterbury to Rome.
The walk on foot along the Via Franchigena to Rome to visit the tomb of the apostle Peter was one of the major ones practiced at that time.
The most popular itineraries were those related to Roman consular roads, those who entered Italy from France passed through the Monginevro pass.
This route was given the name of Via Franchigena, since the first to start this experience of faith were the French, soon followed by thousands of pilgrims also from other European countries.
The total development of the Via Franchigena is over 1600 kilometers, it begins in Canterbury and, via Dover, crosses the English Channel, to continue in continental Europe passing through Calais, Reims, Besançon and Lausanne.
Continuing the journey, the Alps are crossed, at the Colle del Gran San Bernardo, continuing towards Vercelli and Pavia, crossing the Apennines between the provinces of Piacenza and Parma.
Through the Cisa pass, Emilia Romagna is left to enter Tuscany and land in Pontremoli in Lunigiana, from which we proceed and arrive respectively in Lucca, Porcari, Altopascio, San Gimignano, Colle di Val d'Elsa, Poggibonsi, Siena and Viterbo. With a further last effort we reach Rome, the final destination of this daring pilgrimage.
Throughout history, some pilgrims have taken at least 80 days to cover the entire walking route, with an average of about 20 kilometers per day.
