Via Francigena route from Canterbury to Rome, meaning
Meaning of Via Francigena, history of a fascinating journey by pilgrims motivated by religion over the centuries.
Paths of Via Francigena
The Via Francigena represented in the Middle Ages one of the major roads, the route of a pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome. The journey on foot along the Via Francigena to Rome to visit the tomb of the apostle Peter, it was one of the most practiced at that time.
The routes were mainly related to Roman roads, from France in Italy through the Montgenevre pass.
At this location was given the name of Via Francigena, as the first to start this experience of faith were the French, soon followed by thousands of pilgrims coming from other European countries.
The total development of the Via Francigena is over 1,600 kilometers, starts in Canterbury and, through Dover, crosses the English Channel, to continue in continental passing through Calais, Reims, Besançon and Lausanne.
Continuing the journey, through the Alps, at the Great St Bernard Pass, continuing towards Vercelli and Pavia, crossing the Apennines between the provinces of Piacenza and Parma.
Through the Cisa pass is allowed to enter in the Emilia Romagna and Tuscany arrive at 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 further effort we arrive in Rome, the final destination of this brave pilgrimage.
Throughout history some pilgrims have spent at least 80 days to cover the whole route on foot, with an average of about 20 a day km.