Via Francigena - week 4

Via Francigena – week 4

€780 (from) / Per person

Via Francigena – Week 4

This week you will cross over the Appennine mountains, the “backbone of Italy” that stretches North-South along the peninsula. Enjoy the unbeatable prosciutto, parmesan & stuffed pastas of the Parma province, a food capital of Italy. Then hike through pristine woods through the mountains until you reach the famous passo della cisa, the pass that marks the beginning of your descent into Tuscany. In Tuscany you will pass the iconic Groppodalosio bridge, after which lies the historic town of Pontremoli, with the river running through it. Your final destination will be Aulla, a small town with breathtaking views of the mountains on all sides.

Fidenza can be easily reached by train from Milan or Bologna (both about 1h15m).

Waiting for you at your hotel will be all the material you need for your trip: hotel vouchers, a detailed description of the route & stops along the way, & the maps. You will also find information on churches where you can receive a benediction, should you desire one, and have a pilgrim stamp on your credential.

7 Days
Age 15+
Via Francigena

Highlights

Fidenza & Berceto Duomos
The Neolithic statue menhir
The panorama of the Appennino mountains at Cisa Pass

How does it work

We book your accommodations

We will book double/single rooms with private bathrooms in 2* or 3* hotels, b&b or country Inns. and you will find the corresponding vouchers in your package

We transfer your luggage

Just leave it at the reception desk with your name tag and you will find it at your next accommodation.

We supply detailed route notes and maps

The route notes can be in English, Italian, or French. All maps have GPS tracing.

Departure:	Fidenza
Destination:	Aulla
Included:	7 nights (in 2/3 stars accommodation) All breakfast (dinners on demand) Emergency number 24/7 Gps files available Luggage transfer Pilgrim’s “Credenziale” Road book & maps
Excluded:	Dinners Tips Wine tasting

Map

Via Francigena week 4 from Fidenza to Aulla

Tour Plan

Altitude at departure point: 57 mt

Day 1: Arrival in Fidenza

Seat of the European Association of the Vie Francigene the town has been a major stop on the pilgrimage road. The barelifs of its Duomo are very famous and have taken on a symbolic significance for the Francigena travelers.

Distance 31 km (walking time 7.00 h)

Day 2: Fidenza - Fornovo

A fairly long day full of ups and downs approaching the first hills before the Appennino mountains. Pastures and vineyards to begin with, then replaced by oak woods, cool in the summer heat. Fornovo is a pleasant, small town that doesn’t offer many interesting things to see, but being at the beginning of a scarcely populated area offers one of the few opportunities for decent lodging.

Altitude gap: Uphill: m 500

Distance 20.8 km (walking time 4 h)

Day 3: Fornovo - Cassio

It is a tough day because of the high altitude gap. Superb scenery with strange rock formations called I salti del Diavolo- Nice churches in Bardone and Terenzo

Altitude gap: Uphill: m 760

Distance 10,7 km (walking time 4 h)

Day 4: Cassio - Berceto

A softer day with many interesting very typical villages that were built while the Francigena soared with houses lining the road, Reach Berceto with its important Duomo. Located on the Romea, it used to be a crossroad for commerce.

Altitude gap: Uphill: m 300

Distance 13,5 km (walking time 4.30 h)

Day 5: Berceto - Previde

Today we enter Tuscany and we enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery of the whole Francigena. The view from the Cisa Pass is just awesome.

Altitude gap: Uphill: m 650 - Downhill: m 510

Distance 21,5 km (walking time 5 h)

Day 6: Previde - Filattiera

A long day though mainly downhill. Along the way many signs of the faith that was so much part of medieval life: small altars, little chapels, via crucis line the way. You will cross the river Magra on a bridge dating from year 300. Just outside Pontremoli the St Annunziata church was built after the Virgin appeared to a young shepard girl.

Altitude gap: Uphill: m 250

Distance 22,5 km (walking time 5 h)

Day 7: Filattiera - Aulla

Just before arriving in Aulla you will pass the remains of St. Caprasio abbey, dating back to 884.

Altitude gap: Uphill: m 100

Day 8: End our service

See you next year to walk together the next stage