A guidebook to walking the final section of the Via Francigena pilgrimage. Part of a four-volume set, this volume covers the 940km historic route from Rome to Santa Maria di Leuca in Puglia. 

The route is presented in 52 stages of 9 to 30km (6–19 miles), including alternative routes, with information on facilities and pilgrim hostels. Suitable for most abilities.

• 1:100,000 maps and profiles included for each stage 
• GPX files available to download 
• Handy route summary tables help you plan your itinerary 
• Refreshment and accommodation information given for each trek stage 
• Advice on planning and preparation

Route summary tables 
Map key 
Overview profile 
Foreword 
Introduction: Rome to Santa Maria di Leuca, Monte Sant’Angelo, and Bari 
Origins of the Via Francigena in the South 
A route steeped in history 
Landscapes 
Languages 
The pilgrim experience 
Route and schedule options 
Getting there and back 
When to go 
Planning your day to day 
Stage planning 
Lodgings 
Food 
Budget planning 
Preparation and training 
What to pack 
Baggage and storage services 
Local facilities and practical information 
Waymarking 
Safety and health 
How to use this guide 
GPX downloads 
Section 1: Lazio 
Stage 1 Rome to Castel Gandolfo 
Stage 2 Castel Gandolfo to Velletri 
Stage 3 Velletri to Cori 
Stage 4 Cori to Sermoneta 
Stage 5 Sermoneta to Sezze 
Stage 6 Sezze to Abbazia di Fossanova 
Stage 7 Abbazia di Fossanova to Terracina 
Stage 7–8A Variant Abbazia di Fossanova to Monte San Biagio 
Stage 8 Terracina to Fondi 
Stage 9 Fondi to Itri 
Stage 10 Itri to Formia 
Stage 11 Formia to Marina di Minturno 
Stage 12 Marina di Minturno to Sessa Aurunca 
Section 2: Campania 
Stage 13 Sessa Aurunca to Teano 
Stage 14 Teano to Roccaromana 
Stage 15 Roccaromana to Alife 
Stage 16 Alife to Faicchio 
Stage 17 Faicchio to Telese Terme 
Stage 18 Telese Terme to Vitulano 
Stage 19 Vitulano to Benevento 
Stage 20 Benevento to Buonalbergo 
Stage 21 Buonalbergo to Celle di San Vito 
Stage 22 Celle di San Vito to Troia 
Section 3A: Monte Sant’Angelo Variant 
Stage MSA23 Troia to Lucera 
Stage MSA24 Lucera to San Severo 
Stage MSA25 San Severo to Stignano 
Stage MSA26 Stignano to San Giovanni Rotondo 
Stage MSA27 San Giovanni Rotondo to Monte Sant’Angelo 
Section 3B: Via Litoranea Connection 
Section 3: Puglia from Troia to Brindisi 
Stage 23 Troia to Castelluccio dei Sauri 
Stage 24 Castelluccio dei Sauri to Ordona 
Stage 25 Ordona to Stornara 
Stage 26 Stornara to Cerignola 
Stage 27 Cerignola to Canosa di Puglia 
Stage 28 Canosa di Puglia to Andria 
Stage 29 Andria to Corato 
Stage 30 Corato to Ruvo di Puglia 
Stage 31 Ruvo di Puglia to Bitonto 
Stage 32 Bitonto to Bari 
Stage 33 Bari to Mola di Bari 
Stage 34 Mola di Bari to Monopoli 
Stage 35 Monopoli to Savelletri 
Stage 36 Savelletri to Torre Canne 
Stage 37 Torre Canne to Torre Santa Sabina 
Stage 38 Torre Santa Sabina to Brindisi 
Section 4: Puglia from Brindisi to Santa Maria di Leuca 
Stage 39 Brindisi to Torchiarolo 
Stage 40 Torchiarolo to Lecce 
Stage 41 Lecce to Martano 
Stage 42 Martano to Otranto 
Stage 43 Otranto to Vignacastrisi 
Stage 44 Vignacastrisi to Tricase 
Stage 45 Tricase to Santa Maria di Leuca 
Appendix A Stage planning tables 
Appendix B Useful contacts 
Appendix C Bibliography 
Appendix D The route of the Bordeaux Pilgrim in Southern Italy

Seasons

Walkable any time of year. Some snow at higher elevation in winter, more rain between December and January, and very hot in July and August. The best months are mid-September to mid-November, plus March to early June.

Centres

Rome, Benevento, Bari, Brindisi, Lecce, Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca. Variant route destinations include San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant’Angelo and Barletta.

Difficulty

No technical skills or specialised equipment are needed, although the occasional forest or beachside pathway can require careful footing. Sturdy trail runners work well as footwear. Low-cost pilgrimage lodging infrastructure is available on about 50% of the route.

Must See

The 940km Via Francigena south of Rome includes enchanting seaside cities Bari, Brindisi and Monopoli, plus beloved Lecce. The route follows the UNESCO World Heritage Via Appia, plus trails, quiet backroads and over 150km alongside beaches. A major variant leads through Gargano National Park to historic Monte Sant’Angelo.

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.