Via Francigena Final Stage: Montefiascone to Rome
- Arrive in Rome on foot after walking the final stage of the Via Francigena
- Encounter the enchanting old quarter and Roman amphitheatre in Sutri
- Bathe in the thermal pools of Bagnaccio
- Savour a chilled glass of the famous Est! Est!! Est!!! wine in Montefiascone
- Explore Rome and all of its iconic sights
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in MontefiasconeArrive in Montefiascone from where there are delightful views over Lake Bolsena and the Crimini Mountains. Spend time here discovering the frescoes in San Flaviano, many of which were attributed to unknown painters from nearby Siena and which depict the lives of early martyrs. Also visit the Fortress of the Popes, an imposing building which dominates Montefiascone’s skyline. This evening enjoy a chilled glass of Est! Est!! Est!!, the wine that this region is famous for.
Hotel Urbano V is situated in a very tranquil position, in perfect balance with the architecture of the historical centre, glorious land of the famous wine "Est!Est!!Est!!!". Completely restored in June 2002, it is one of the most ancient palaces in town, where noble families and popes have lived since the XIV century.
The trail that you are following today takes you on a plain that divides Lake Bolsena from the Cimini Mountains. A great highlight is encountering the Bagnaccio thermal pools. Don’t forget to pack a swimming suit so that you can take a break here. The pools are steamy and milky green and are the result of a natural volcanic hot spring. The Romans used to bathe here and little has changed at this site for 2,000 years.
Arrive in Viterbo, the best preserved medieval town in Lazio and the 13th century residence of the popes.
Ascent/Descent: 120m/350m
Located in the middle of the medieval centre of Viterbo and just a 5-minute walk to the cathedral. The warm and friendly B&B offers a pleasant stay after a long day.
On this part of the Via Francigena, you will follow the route that takes you past Lake Vico which is nestled in the Cimini Hills that rise up from the plains. It is a beautiful and unspoilt area full of mature oak woodlands that drop down to the crystal clear lake. In medieval towns pilgrims also took this route to avoid a marshy plain where the risk of getting malaria was very high.
Once you are past Lake Vico spend the night in Caprarola whose countryside is dominated by the Renaissance mansion of Villa Farnese, originally a fortress.
Ascent/Descent: 750m/590m
La Rocca is located in the historic center of Caprarola, at the foot of the majestic palace-fortress. The rooms are simply but lovingly furnished and in the morning you can look forward to homemade cakes and fresh juices.
Depart from Caprarola and follow a trail which traverses the summit ridges of the Cimini Hills with beautiful views everywhere you turn. These volcanic hills are densely wooded and part of the Antiapennine range.
As you approach Sutri you can see that it is situated picturesquely and dramatically on a tuff hill. During Roman times it occupied a commanding position on the road to Etruria and you will be able to discover its amazing Roman ruins, specifically the Roman amphitheatre which was carved out of the tuff rock, the Etruscan necropolis’s which have again been formed out of the rock and the Mithraem, a place of worship, which has now been converted into the Church of Santa Maria del Parto and has amazing frescoes. Interestingly Sutri is also situated along the Via Cassia, a road linking Rome with northern Italy and at certain stretches you will walk along this ancient route too.
Ascent/Descent: 180m/420m
Set in a historic farmhouse built on a natural tufa rock, right in front of the Roman Amphitheater in Sutri. Enjoy the onsite traditional restaurant and terrace, serving delicious Italian cuisine.
Today includes walks through fields and past rivers and impressive waterfalls, such as Monte Gelato which is a great place to relax, swim and have a break. Continue to follow the trail which becomes a flagged Roman road and which eventually leads you to Campagnano di Roma, first mentioned in 1076. As you approach you will see it rising above the landscape.
Ascent/Descent: 240m/220m
This Hotel is located in Camps Benigni Di Roma, a typical town of Lazio, which is close to the lakes of Bracciano and Martignano. It’s almost entirely surrounded by the Park of Veii and the Monti Sabatini volcanic complex.
On your route today pass the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sorbo which is dramatically positioned on a rocky spur overlooking the Sorbo Valley and then pass the interesting Etruscan ruins of Veii which in the 6th century was the greatest centre for the fabrication of terra-cotta sculptures in Etruria. In its heyday Veii was as big as Athens and had a population of about 100,000 inhabitants. Spend time here exploring the ruins before continuing on to La Giustiniana.
Ascent/Descent: 400m/550m
Ideally located close to Rome, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, this family run converted farmhouse will take your breath away. With friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere, this accomodation will make you feel right at home! Enjoy a healthy breakfast in the morning.
From La Giustiniana you follow the route on the Via Francigena along the Via Trionfale.
Should you follow the Via Trionfale into Rome you will also walk through two major parks, the Insugherata and Mt Mario. It is amazing when you behold the sight of central Rome with its many iconic buildings and particularly St Peter’s which you will see from the top of the 139m Mount Mario on the north-western side of the city. It’s a great place to sit and have your packed lunch before walking along the Viale Angelico to complete your journey.
Ascent/Descent: 200m/340m
The PapaVistaRelais guest house has recently opened and is delighted to welcome travellers and pilgrims alike to the Eternal City of Rome and to the Holy City of the Vatican. With just six intimate, cosy and delicately fashioned guest rooms, they offer a unique blend of top quality surroundings in a perfect location at the greatest value for money.
After breakfast your walking holiday will come to an end. See the Travel & Transfers section for some useful details for your onward travel.
This trip has a carbon score of 7kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 7kg is equivalent to 1 single running shoe (not even a pair!). Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?You can either complete the final stage of this pilgrimage route independently, or you may complete several of the sections consecutively. This particular section is graded as moderate as daily distances are between 16 and 25 km. Classic and rural hill top villages, Etruscan and Roman remains, stunning scenery and local wine and food are the highlights on this pilgrimage route.
Pilgrimages | For those looking to follow a path of self-discovery. Our Pilgrimage and Camino routes take you on a journey through diverse landscapes and local flavours, while meeting like-minded adventurers along the way.
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This walking holiday is graded moderate. However the daily distances vary quite a lot between 16 and 25km, so you must be capable of also walking the longer distances. You need to be in good physical shape to complete this section of the Via Francigena as there are also some elevation gains and losses along the way.
You need to be a regular walker and in good physical shape to complete the Full Via Francigena. If you are doing shorter stages then these are less demanding, but the per day mileage still includes longer distances on some days and a couple of the stages include ascents and descents, especially in the foothills of the Alps at the start of the Via Francigena route. We would recommend taking training walks carrying your daypack ahead of going on this trip.
During your trip you will stay in a variety of accommodations. The properties range from private rooms in pilgrims' hostels to 2, 3 and 4* hotels as well as B&B's and guesthouses. At times you will be staying in remote towns and villages, therefore the accommodations in these places are the best that these particular areas have to offer. If you require single rooms for your party we would be happy to accommodate you. Solo walkers are also welcomed.
Important: Due to the remote location of some of the smaller towns and villages along the way it is possible that some of your overnight hotels will be a few kilometres from the route or in a nearby town or village. If this is the case, you will always receive directions to and from the trail in your route notes. Please be aware that this may result in slightly longer or shorter walking days.
Meals
Daily breakfasts are included. Breakfasts are usually continental or Italian-style with a choice of bread, croissants, meats, and cheeses. Sometimes it is possible to order packed lunches at your hotel or B&B the evening before or you can buy lunch in groceries, cafes, and restaurants en route. You can opt to include dinners as well if you wish.
The trail in the most part is well marked but in some of the agricultural areas, such as the cultivated lowlands, this does become sparser. Along the length of the route, it also travels through several different municipalities and the style of the markers can vary between them and not every region has invested in consistently waymarking the trail.
The type of markers includes brown metal plates with two walkers and the route name on them or smaller ones showing a pilgrim and an arrow pointing the right way at road junctions. Red and white signs with a yellow pilgrim on them are also common. There are also signs with little yellow pilgrims on them and a white arrow which points towards Rome (those that are the same but with a yellow arrow lead to Santiago). In the Valle d’Aosta the signs tend to be yellow with Via Francigena written on them along with a route number.
Even if the signs can be lacking or confusing at times, navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost.
- Overnights in a variety of accommodation
- Breakfasts
- Door to door baggage transfer as per your itinerary
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- Transfers where mentioned in the itinerary
- All your trip documents including a detailed information pack provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- Telephone support from our office in the event of a problem
- Travel to and from the start and finish points
- Public transportation where mentioned in the itinerary
- Lunches, dinners, drinks, and snacks
- Any additional travel en route, should you wish to miss a day's walking
- Travel insurance (required) and personal equipment
- Mountain rescue / emergency assistance
- Tourist taxes (charged locally at hotels)
- Additional nights before, after or during the trip
- Half board upgrade supplement
This trip is available from mid-March to the end of October. You can start your holiday on any date in the season.
Spring in Italy is sublime and April, May and June are absolutely lovely. Autumn is a great time of year as the landscape is made up of a gold and red pallet so September and October are unmissable. July and August can be very hot so you will have to start early to miss the heat of the day and then perhaps have a long lunch and finish walking in the mid to late afternoon.
The best way of getting to Montefiascone is by flying into Rome Fiumicino Airport. From here it is possible to take a train to Viterbo (via Roma Trastevere Station) and then from here to Montefiascone. Upon arrival in Montefiascone, you will need to take a taxi to your hotel as the station is 5km away from the town centre. It is also possible to take a bus from Viterbo to the centre of Montefiascone, so avoiding the taxi fare. For train schedules please check the Trenitalia website. You could also fly into Rome Ciampino Airport but it is not served by as many airlines.
It is best to fly out of Rome. There are two main airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino. To get to Fiumicino Airport you can either take the Leonardo Express train which leaves Rome Termini and takes 30 minutes or you can take the Sabina-Fiumicino line which stops at every station but costs less. To get to Ciampino Airport take train from Rome Termini to Ciampino Train Station and then a bus from here to the airport.
Enjoy the ease of walking with a light backpack and having your main luggage moved for you each day (included). Your bags will be collected from your accommodation and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Each morning where a baggage transfer is required, just leave your main bag in the reception/luggage storage area and we will have them transferred to the next location. Please limit the weight of your baggage to 20 kg per bag (one piece per person).
Your required fitness level will depend upon which section of the Via Francigena you choose to do. Please read the grade and terrain section of each individual section or the full walk to give you an idea of the walking on that particular itinerary. We suggest that you might like to start a regular walking programme before you travel, in order to make the most of your time and walks and Italy.
Certain sections of the Via Francigena, such as the start and end of the trail, are very popular. Therefore it is better to book earlier rather than later to ensure we are able to secure the most suitable accommodation for your trip.
There are three main pieces of equipment that are essential to you enjoying your pilgrimage, and they are comfortable walking shoes with good wool or anti-blister socks, and a day pack that gives you good back support. Most surfaces along the way are smooth and so walking shoes should suffice rather than boots. It is hard surface walking for the most part, so we recommend walking shoes that have a good level of padding or walking socks that offer cushioning. There are a few sections of the route which include mountain paths, in particular in Stage 1 in the Alps. For this part of the route waterproof walking boots with good ankle support and sturdy tread are recommended. If travelling in the spring or autumn it can be cool in the morning, but it soon heats up in the late morning and afternoon so make sure and bring some layers with you. During the summer months, the area can be prone to afternoon thunderstorms, so waterproofs are also essential in case of heavy showers, or you may find since it’s still hot that a lightweight rain poncho is more suitable. Our information pack has a list of all the equipment you will need, along with some helpful suggestions.
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment. We’re taking action to minimise the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery. On this tour, most of your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website and the Macs Adventure Smartphone App.
You may be able to take public transport or taxis onto the next accommodation, please check with the accommodation provider or our local partner as they are best able to give you up to date advice.
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