Pilgrims to Rome
This section is devoted to Frequently Asked Questions -
Where is the best place to start?
Canterbury is the obvious place but if you cannot spare time to walk all the way
there are alternatives which will reduce your journey length. Besancon is where
the flat (not all) countryside of France meets the Jura and the scenery picks up.
Lausanne gives you a few days flattish walking around the lake and along the Rhone
before starting the St Bernard pass. Martigny would be the equivalent of St Jean
Pied-
The Pilgrim Record is a certificate of bona fide pilgrim status, and may be required for access to the refugios/monasteries. It is stamped at the beginning, and daily at churches, town halls, bars etc along the way. Pilgrim records are made available only to walkers, cyclists, and pilgrims on horseback. Also see Pilgrim Credential (AKA Pilgrim Record, Pilgrim Passport)
Is there an equivalent of the Compostela?
The ‘Testimonium’ is the equivalent to the Compostela which is awarded to those who
walk to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. There are two kinds of Testimonium. The
first is issued by don Bruno Vercesi in St Peter's Basilica (see further details
below). It is available only to single or small groups of pilgrims. To qualify
walkers and pilgrims on horseback must have covered at least the last 130 km, and
cyclists the last 400 km in one journey and have completed the pilgrimage for religious
reasons. There is also a certificate available at the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi
for those who do the journey for religious or cultural/historic reasons. The distance
requirements are different to the one above -
To qualify for the Testimonium issued by Don Bruno the minimum distance to travel for walkers is from Acquapendente (130km) or for cyclists from Lucca (400km) to Rome. Don Bruno Vercesi who provides the Testimonium is there from 9 to 12 every day except Tuesday, finding him is not always easy though (see below). If Don Bruno is not there leave your complete address and photocopy of your pilgrim passport and they will send the Testimonium by post.
After you enter the Basilica go down on the left hand side until you reach the entrance to the museum. Follow the hall until you reach the museum ticket desk and just before it on the left is a roped of passage with a guard. Ask asked to be directed to the Sacristy. There ask the official if he will ring Don Bruno Vercesi and hopefully he will be in his office. He will issue you with the Testimonium and may ask you to write comments about your pilgrimage against the entry of your name in his VF ledger.
It is wise in case Don Bruno is not there to take a photocopy of your 'pilgrim passport' complete with stamps. Make a note of your name and address, and put them together with a stamped addressed envelope along with a letter about your trip in an envelope and address it to don Bruno Vercesi. You can leave it for him at the Sacristy at St Peter's or mail it to him there. He'll get back to you with a Testimonium. Don't worry if it takes quite a while, the Via Francigena isn't Don Bruno's real job so he deals with requests in batches when he gets a chance.
If you are lucky and Don Bruno has the time he may ask if you want to go close to
St Peter's tomb to pray. He may take you back into the Basilica and down some steps
and past some barriers, to a private little chapel (the Clementine Chapel) -
P.S. Remember Don Bruno is not available on Tuesdays!
What about travel/health insurance?
EU citizens should carry a European Health Insurance Card -
Allow about three months to walk the entire route (it is 85 days without stops) and about 30 days to cycle.
If you wish to walk the whole route in one go your departure date will be governed by access to the Great St Bernard pass. This pass can only be crossed between June and September and is about halfway so you will need to leave Canterbury somewhere between mid April and mid July. The Italian coast is very hot and busy in August. There is a wide range of temperature according to height, latitude and season.
There is a wide variety of landscapes and towns. There are traces of pilgrim activity in the past and numerous interesting small chapels and churches along the way. Among the most exceptional sights are Canterbury Cathedral, Reims Cathedral and St. Peter’s Basilica. Towns on the Italian section include Siena with its stunning Cathedral, San Gimignano with its towers, Lucca with its thick walls.
There is not the network of pilgrim refuges as on the routes to Santiago but there are some provisions for pilgrims in Italy. The route is developing and more cheap accommodation is becoming available albeit fairly slowly! See also the entry for Accommodation under A in the Tips section.
Can I cross the river Po in Italy by boat?
If you want to take the "taxi fluvial"(ferry) across the Pô from Corte Andrea to Soprarivo please note that it is ESSENTIAL to phone 24 hours ahead: Danilo Parisi, 0523 771607, or Giovanni Faravi, 0377 802155 + 0339 12268946
Tip: if your Italian is not up to using the telephone go into a cafe and after buying your drink ask the owner/person serving you if they can do it for you (phone calls in Italy are very cheap).
Are there Pilgrim Refuges on the Via F like there are on the Camino de Santiago in Spain?
The short answer is No! Most of the refuges in Spain are run by municipal authorities and this type of accommodation does not yet exist on the Via F. However there is some provision for pilgrims with basic, low cost beds available, run by Parish Organisations, Religious Orders or Volunteer groups. Facilities vary considerably and number of beds can be anything from 1 to 15+
What about pilgrims who have their bags carried?
I am considering organising transport for my main bag and just carrying daypack. On the Camino de Santiago some of the refugios will not admit pilgrims who do not carry all their luggage with them. Is this the same on the Via Francigena?
As stated above pilgrim accommodation is in short supply and will be reserved for
those who are walking/cycling with no back-
Is it reasonably common and easy to arrange daily main bag transport?
The short answer to this is also No! Unless you join an organised group where all aspects of the walk (route, stop points, accommodation, meals etc) are organised for you, you will need to be prepared to carry all your own stuff. If you did want this kind of support, and there was a group of you, one way might be to hire a car and take turns driving for the day.
Can I stay in accommodation with religious orders?
It is not so easy in France, but in Italy there are a number of Convents and Monasteries that offer accommodation on a commercial basis. Some of our members have found them to be more expensive than small hotels, though if an evening meal is included it can be good value.
We are a large group (10 -
This may present a problem in some of the smaller towns in France, less so in Switzerland
and Italy. Research and pre-
