Journey from the Eternal City to Italy’s sun-drenched southern tip on the final stage of the legendary Via Francigena, where timeless towns, ancient pilgrimage roads, and sweeping coastlines lead you from Rome to Santa Maria di Leuca. Discover the heart of southern Italy as you traverse volcanic lakes, forested ridges, and olive-clad hills, following in the footsteps of pilgrims.

Ideal for long-distance walkers and those seeking a classic pilgrimage adventure, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook presents the fourth stage of the Via Francigena, described in 52 day-long stages and covering 940km (584 miles) from Rome through Lazio, Campania, and Puglia to the sanctuary at Santa Maria di Leuca. Two major alternatives, the spectacular Monte Sant’Angelo variant and the scenic Via Litoranea coastal route, allow you to tailor your journey to your ambitions and schedule.

• Includes advice for walking the route in sections, making the Via Francigena accessible whether you have several weeks or just a few days to spare.
• Stages are clearly described with distance, ascent/descent, estimated walking times, and difficulty ratings, allowing you to plan each day, whether you prefer a gentle pace or a more challenging itinerary.
• Explore Italy’s rich heritage, from the historic cities of Bari, Brindisi, and Lecce to picturesque villages such as Troia, Otranto, and Monopoli, and enjoy the warm hospitality of local inns and pilgrim lodgings.
• Each stage features 1:100,000 mapping and elevation profiles, with free downloadable GPX tracks for confident navigation throughout your pilgrimage.
• Accommodation, refreshment, and facility listings are provided for every stage, alongside practical advice on public transport, packing, pilgrimage credentials, and baggage transport.
• The Via Francigena in the South is best enjoyed from spring through autumn, when the countryside and coast are at their most beautiful and the weather is ideal for walking.
• Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Via Francigena, covering the journey from Canterbury to Rome, are available as companion Cicerone guidebooks, enabling you to complete the full pilgrimage across Europe.

Plan your southern Italian pilgrimage with the definitive Cicerone guidebook to the Via Francigena – Part 4, and complete your journey from Rome to the windswept sanctuary at Santa Maria di Leuca, discovering a route that blends spiritual tradition, Italian hospitality, and the ever-changing beauty of the peninsula’s southern landscapes.

Via Francigena Part 4 – Rome to Santa Maria di Leuca: Quick Facts

Location: Southern Italy, from Rome to Santa Maria di Leuca
Number of stages: 52 stages (including Monte Sant’Angelo and Via Litoranea variants)
Distance: 940km (584 miles)
Duration: 6–8 weeks; 52 daily stages 9–30km (6–19 miles)
Areas covered: Rome, Sermoneta, Nemi, Benevento, Troia, Monte Sant’Angelo (variant), Bari, Brindisi, Lecce, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca
Route type: Pilgrimage path, ancient Roman roads, coastal and inland routes, historic towns and villages
Difficulty: Generally moderate; some challenging stages; suitable for most walkers with preparation
Terrain: Volcanic lakes, forested mountains, olive groves, coastal paths, grain fields, and picturesque southern Italian towns
Navigation: 1:100,000 mapping, elevation profiles, detailed route descriptions, free downloadable GPX tracks
Best season: Spring and autumn (April–June, September–October; mild weather and best conditions)
Highlights: Ancient pilgrimage roads, UNESCO World Heritage sites (Monte Sant’Angelo), Adriatic and Ionian coastlines, historic cities, quiet rural landscapes, warm local hospitality
Equipment: Sturdy walking shoes/boots, sun and rain protection, layered clothing, daypack, basic pilgrimage gear
Accommodation: Pilgrim hostels, B&Bs, small hotels, and guesthouses throughout the route
 

Author Highlight

"Before anyone ever dreamed of making a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in the far west of Europe, the pilgrim route south of Rome was already centuries old… To walk the Via Francigena in the South (VFS) is to join the same unending stream of pilgrims who passed along the same Roman roads, climbed the same green mountains, walked across the same vast fields, and stood looking with misty eyes at Europe behind them and the endless sea ahead.” 

- Sandy Brown and Nicole Bukaty, authors of Walking the Via Franigena Pilgrim Route - Part 4

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.

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