Name: Walking the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route - Part 3
Brand: Cicerone Press
Price: 18.95 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Walking the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route - Part 3

Lucca to Rome

Guidebook to the 400km third part of the Via Francigena pilgrim route from Lucca to Rome. Crossing Tuscany in the heartland of Italy, the route goes through two of the region's most important cities, Lucca and Siena, and visits San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and Radicofani. Described in 18 stages, with information on facilities and pilgrim hostels.

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Quick facts

Trail name: Walking the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route – Part 3
Location: Central Italy, Tuscany and Lazio (Lucca to Rome)
Total distance: ~413 km / ~255 miles
Typical duration: Under three weeks
Start: Lucca
Finish: Rome (Piazza San Pietro / Vatican)
Route type: Long-distance pilgrim walking route in stages
Stages: 18 stages of ~14–33 km each
Difficulty: Moderate fitness needed due to hilly terrain; suitable for most walkers
Navigation: Stage mapping with 1:100,000 maps and GPX files available
Accommodation: Detailed listings and pilgrim lodging options provided

Detailed overview

Walk the rolling Tuscan hills, historic towns, and sacred sites of Italy on Part 3 of the Via Francigena pilgrimage route, covering 413km (255 miles) from Lucca to Rome. This central-southern section of the world-famous 2000km route threads through the heart of Tuscany and Lazio, offering medieval villages, vineyards, and iconic landmarks, culminating in the Eternal City.

Suitable for walkers of most abilities, this section requires moderate fitness due to hilly terrain and can be completed in under three weeks. The route is presented in 18 stages of 14–33 km (9–20 miles), passing through the walled town of San Gimignano, the historic streets of Siena, the medieval centre of Viterbo, and the ancient temples of Sutri before reaching Rome’s magnificent Piazza San Pietro.

18 stage-by-stage route descriptions covering Lucca to Rome along the Via Francigena, including medieval villages, Tuscan landscapes, and Lazio’s rolling hills
Each stage includes distance, estimated walking time, ascent and descent, and terrain summary for planning daily sections and managing the hilly terrain
1:100,000 mapping for the full route, plus larger-scale town maps for key locations such as Lucca, Siena, Viterbo, and Rome and the Vatican City for precise navigation
GPX files provided for the Via Francigena Part 3, compatible with GPS devices and smartphone apps for easy digital navigation
Detailed accommodation listings, pilgrim lodging options, and refreshment points along each stage to support comfortable walking
Handy route summary tables and planning advice, including facilities, public transport links, and tips for preparation and packing for your Italian adventure

Plan your Via Francigena adventure from Lucca to Rome with confidence, and experience one of Italy’s most iconic long-distance pilgrim walks with this comprehensive guidebook.

Where and when to go

Seasons

Suitable for walking year round, but the best seasons for moderate weather are spring and autumn, with hottest temperatures in July and August.

Centres

Lucca, San Miniato, Monteriggioni, Siena, San Quirico d'Orcia, Radicofani, Acquapendente, Bolsena, Viterbo, Sutri, Rome.

Difficulty

This portion of the Via Francigena is suitable for walkers of all levels, with no special gear required. Day stages are graded on level of difficulty from 1-4.

Must See

The walled city of Lucca, scenic walks among the vineyards and fields of beautiful Tuscany, the medieval village of Monteriggioni, the stunning city of Siena with its dramatic cathedral, volcanic Lake Bolsena, Viterbo, second home of the Popes, the Etruscan city of Sutri and the Eternal City of Rome.

Map key
Map of the Via Francigena Canterbury to Rome
Overview map Lucca to Rome
Overview profile Lucca to Rome
Route summary table
Foreword

Introduction: The Via Francigena from Lucca to Rome
A brief history of the Via Francigena
The modern Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome

Planning your walk
Where to begin
When to walk
Where to stay
What and where to eat
Should I make reservations ahead?
How much money should I budget?
How do I get to this portion of the Via Francigena?
How do I return from Rome?
How do I secure my credential and Testimonium?

Tips for making the most of your walk
Topography of the Via Francigena in Central Italy
Understanding local cultures
Training for your walk
What and how to pack
Baggage transport and storage
Health and well-being
How to use this guide
GPX tracks and accommodation downloads

Section 1: Tuscany
Stage 1 Lucca to Altopascio
Stage 2 Altopascio to San Miniato
Stage 3 San Miniato to Gambassi Terme
Stage 4 Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano
Stage 5 San Gimignano to Monteriggioni
Stage 6 Monteriggioni to Siena
Stage 7 Siena to Ponte d'Arbia
Stage 8 Ponte d'Arbia to San Quirico d'Orcia
Stage 9 San Quirico d'Orcia to Radicofani
Stage 10 Radicofani to Acquapendente

Section 2: Lazio
Stage 11 Acquapendente to Bolsena
Stage 12 Bolsena to Montefiascone
Stage 13 Montefiascone to Viterbo
Stage 14/15 Cimino Variant: Viterbo to Sutri
Stage 14 Viterbo to Vetralla
Stage 15 Vetralla to Sutri
Stage 16 Sutri to Campagnano di Roma
Stage 17 Campagnano di Roma to La Storta
Stage 18 La Storta to Vatican City
Appendix A Stage planning table
Appendix B Useful contacts
Appendix C Bibliography
Appendix C Sigeric's journey: then and now

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN	9781786310798
Availability	Published
Published	23 March 2021
Reprinted	12 October 2026
Weight	220g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

Updates

Currently there are no updates for this book.

Meet the author

The Reverend Sandy Brown

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Sanford 'Sandy' Brown is a community activist, long-distance walker and ordained minister from Seattle, Washington. Inspired by The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho, he trekked the Camino de Santiago in 2008 and since then has walked or biked over 20,000km on pilgrim trails in Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy and the United States. He leads group pilgrimage treks through his travel company, www.pilgrimpaths.com.

Sandy earned his undergraduate degree in medieval history at the University of Washington in Seattle, his MDiv at Garrett Theological Seminary, which honored him in 2006 as a Distinguished Alumnus, and in 1997 earned a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary in gender, sexuality and spirituality. In 2023 the European Association of Via Francigena Ways bestowed its Honor Award on Sandy for his contributions to the development of the route. He has two grown sons and lives with his wife, Theresa Elliott, in Lucca, Italy.