Via Francigena Final Stage: Montefiascone to Rome
- Arrive in Rome on foot after walking the final stage of the Via Francigena
- Encounter the enchanting old quarter and Roman amphitheatre in Sutri
- Bathe in the thermal pools of Bagnaccio
- Savour a chilled glass of the famous Est! Est!! Est!!! wine in Montefiascone
- Explore Rome and all of its iconic sights
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in MontefiasconeArrive in Montefiascone from where there are delightful views over Lake Bolsena and the Crimini Mountains. Spend time here discovering the frescoes in San Flaviano, many of which were attributed to unknown painters from nearby Siena and which depict the lives of early martyrs. Also visit the Fortress of the Popes, an imposing building which dominates Montefiascone’s skyline. This evening enjoy a chilled glass of Est! Est!! Est!!, the wine that this region is famous for.

Hotel Urbano V is situated in a very tranquil position, in perfect balance with the architecture of the historical centre, glorious land of the famous wine "Est!Est!!Est!!!". Completely restored in June 2002, it is one of the most ancient palaces in town, where noble families and popes have lived since the XIV century.
The trail that you are following today takes you on a plain that divides Lake Bolsena from the Cimini Mountains. A great highlight is encountering the Bagnaccio thermal pools. Don’t forget to pack a swimming suit so that you can take a break here. The pools are steamy and milky green and are the result of a natural volcanic hot spring. The Romans used to bathe here and little has changed at this site for 2,000 years.
Arrive in Viterbo, the best preserved medieval town in Lazio and the 13th century residence of the popes.
Ascent/Descent: 136m/358m

Located in the middle of the medieval centre of Viterbo and just a 5-minute walk to the cathedral. The warm and friendly B&B offers a pleasant stay after a long day.
Today you have two options: Option B leads through the ancient and unique ‘Vie Cave’ of the Etruscans. These are paths dug into the tuff with walls that are sometimes over 20 metres high. It is still not known exactly what these impressive paths were used for. It is assumed that they could have been connecting paths or rainwater channels. Most of today's stage runs along the Via Francigena cycle path, over natural paths, gravel tracks and tarmac roads and is a shorter alternative to option A.
Option A follows a path through oak and chestnut woods until you reach the village of San Martino al Cimino. Here you walk past the old monastery, a former Cistercian abbey. The route continues on alternating muted forest paths and some sections on tarmac roads. You will be rewarded with panoramic views before entering the forest again and walking down shady paths to the village of Tre Croci. From here, you reach Vetralla via a short stretch on a gravel road.
Option A, 21km/ 13mi, Acent/ Decent: 432m/485m
Option B, 16km/ 10mi, Acent/ Decent: 143m/169m

Hotel da Benedetta was opened by grandmother Benedetta Rosati in 1959. In more than sixty years, our family has seen the territory, the pilgrims and its own hotel change, but never the tradition and the identity legacy of grandmother Benedetta.
Run by the Pasquinelli family, recently renovated and with a green soul, the Da Benedetta hotel restores the spirit of this splendid land, Tuscia. A soft land, of passage, in which culture is a legacy of ancestors, of wayfarers.
You leave the historic town of Vetralla and hike through a varied landscape characterised by rolling hills, forests and farmland. On the way to Sutri, you will pass picturesque villages and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The route leads through shady forests and along vineyards, which makes the hike particularly pleasant. A highlight of this stage is reaching Sutri, a town known for its Etruscan ruins and impressive rock church.
Acent/ Decent: 259m/302m

Set in a historic farmhouse built on a natural tufa rock, right in front of the Roman Amphitheater in Sutri. At B&B Le Terrecotte it is possible to relax and savor homemade biscuits at any time, accompanied by a hot tea or herbal infuses where one can talk, read, think, sleep, reflect and create… at peace with the world and with yourself.
Today includes walks through fields and past rivers and impressive waterfalls, such as Monte Gelato which is a great place to relax, swim and have a break. Continue to follow the trail which becomes a flagged Roman road and which eventually leads you to Campagnano di Roma, first mentioned in 1076. As you approach you will see it rising above the landscape.
Ascent/Descent: 240m/224m

This Hotel is located in Camps Benigni Di Roma, a typical town of Lazio, which is close to the lakes of Bracciano and Martignano. It’s almost entirely surrounded by the Park of Veii and the Monti Sabatini volcanic complex.
On your route today pass the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sorbo which is dramatically positioned on a rocky spur overlooking the Sorbo Valley and then pass the interesting Etruscan ruins of Veii which in the 6th century was the greatest centre for the fabrication of terra-cotta sculptures in Etruria. In its heyday Veii was as big as Athens and had a population of about 100,000 inhabitants. Spend time here exploring the ruins before continuing on to La Giustiniana.
Ascent/Descent: 379m/524m

Ideally located close to Rome, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, this family run converted farmhouse will take your breath away. With friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere, this accomodation will make you feel right at home! Enjoy a healthy breakfast in the morning.
From La Giustiniana you follow the route on the Via Francigena along the Via Trionfale.
Should you follow the Via Trionfale into Rome you will also walk through two major parks, the Insugherata and Mt Mario. It is amazing when you behold the sight of central Rome with its many iconic buildings and particularly St Peter’s which you will see from the top of the 139m Mount Mario on the north-western side of the city. It’s a great place to sit and have your packed lunch before walking along the Viale Angelico to complete your journey.
Ascent/Descent: 105m/264m

The PapaVistaRelais guest house has recently opened and is delighted to welcome travellers and pilgrims alike to the Eternal City of Rome and to the Holy City of the Vatican. With just six intimate, cosy and delicately fashioned guest rooms, they offer a unique blend of top quality surroundings in a perfect location at the greatest value for money.
After breakfast your walking holiday will come to an end. See the Travel & Transfers section for some useful details for your onward travel.
This trip has a carbon score of 7kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 7kg is equivalent to 1 single running shoe (not even a pair!). Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?The final section is graded as moderate as daily distances are between 16 and 25 km. Classic and rural hill top villages, Etruscan and Roman remains, stunning scenery and local wine and food are the highlights on this pilgrimage route.
Pilgrimages | For those looking to follow a path of self-discovery. Our Pilgrimage and Camino routes take you on a journey through diverse landscapes and local flavours, while meeting like-minded adventurers along the way.
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This walking holiday is graded moderate. However the daily distances vary quite a lot between 16 and 25km, so you must be capable of also walking the longer distances. You need to be in good physical shape to complete this section of the Via Francigena as there are also some elevation gains and losses along the way.
In spring and summer in particular, the hiking trails may be overgrown in places. We recommend that you pack long trousers/pants and long-sleeved tops in your day pack just in case of this occurrence.
Due to the long daily stages, hiking experience and a good level of fitness are required. We therefore recommend walking routes with similar distances, inclines and declines whilst carrying your day pack ahead of going on this trip. There are no technical challenges.
During your trip you will stay in a variety of accommodations. The properties range from private rooms in pilgrims' hostels to 2, 3 and 4* hotels as well as B&B's and guesthouses. At times you will be staying in remote towns and villages, therefore the accommodations in these places are the best that these particular areas have to offer. If you require single rooms for your party we would be happy to accommodate you. Solo walkers are also welcomed.
Important: Due to the remote location of some of the smaller towns and villages along the way it is possible that some of your overnight hotels will be a few kilometres from the route or in a nearby town or village. If this is the case, you will always receive directions to and from the trail in your route notes. Please be aware that this may result in slightly longer or shorter walking days.
Meals
Daily breakfasts are included. Breakfasts are usually continental or Italian-style with a choice of bread, croissants, meats, and cheeses. Sometimes it is possible to order packed lunches at your hotel or B&B the evening before or you can buy lunch in groceries, cafes, and restaurants en route. You can opt to include dinners as well if you wish.
The trail in the most part is well marked but in some areas it does become sparser. The type of markers includes brown metal plates with two walkers and the route name on them or smaller ones showing a pilgrim and an arrow pointing the right way at road junctions. Red and white signs with a yellow pilgrim on them are also common. There are also signs with little yellow pilgrims on them and a white arrow which points towards Rome.
Even if the signs can be lacking or confusing at times, navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost.
The Via Francigena is not just one route, but in some places there are several variants, some of which are adapted regionally by the local authorities. True to the motto ‘All Roads Lead To Rome’ our route is adapted as closely as possible to the original Via Francigena. In addition to hiking trails, you will also walk along roads with little or heavy traffic or industrial areas. To avoid the latter, the route occasionally deviates from the original route. Always follow the track in our app and don't leave it if the signposts point in a different direction.
- Overnights in a variety of accommodation
- Breakfasts
- Door to door baggage transfer as per your itinerary
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- Transfers where mentioned in the itinerary
- All your trip documents including a detailed information pack provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- Telephone support from our office in the event of a problem
- Travel to and from the start and finish points
- Public transportation where mentioned in the itinerary
- Lunches, dinners, drinks, and snacks
- Any additional travel en route, should you wish to miss a day's walking
- Travel insurance (required) and personal equipment
- Mountain rescue / emergency assistance
- Tourist taxes (charged locally at hotels)
- Additional nights before, after or during the trip
- Half board upgrade supplement
This trip is available from mid-March to the end of October. You can start your holiday on any date in the season.
Spring in Italy is sublime and April, May and June are absolutely lovely. Autumn is a great time of year as the landscape is made up of a gold and red pallet so September and October are unmissable. July and August can be very hot so you will have to start early to miss the heat of the day and then perhaps have a long lunch and finish walking in the mid to late afternoon.
The best way of getting to Montefiascone is by flying into Rome Fiumicino Airport. From here it is possible to take a train to Viterbo (via Roma Trastevere Station) and then from here to Montefiascone. Upon arrival in Montefiascone, you will need to take a taxi to your hotel as the station is 5km away from the town centre. It is also possible to take a bus from Viterbo to the centre of Montefiascone, so avoiding the taxi fare. For train schedules please check the Trenitalia website. You could also fly into Rome Ciampino Airport but it is not served by as many airlines.
It is best to fly out of Rome. There are two main airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino. To get to Fiumicino Airport you can either take the Leonardo Express train which leaves Rome Termini and takes 30 minutes or you can take the Sabina-Fiumicino line which stops at every station but costs less. To get to Ciampino Airport take train from Rome Termini to Ciampino Train Station and then a bus from here to the airport.
Enjoy the ease of walking with a light backpack and having your main luggage moved for you each day (included). Your bags will be collected from your accommodation and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Your required fitness level will depend upon which section of the Via Francigena you choose to do. Please read the grade and terrain section of each individual section or the full walk to give you an idea of the walking on that particular itinerary. We suggest that you might like to start a regular walking programme before you travel, in order to make the most of your time and walks and Italy.
Certain sections of the Via Francigena, such as the start and end of the trail, are very popular. Therefore it is better to book earlier rather than later to ensure we are able to secure the most suitable accommodation for your trip.
There are three main pieces of equipment that are essential to you enjoying your pilgrimage, and they are comfortable walking shoes with good wool or anti-blister socks, and a day pack that gives you good back support. Most surfaces along the way are smooth and so walking shoes should suffice rather than boots. It is hard surface walking for the most part, so we recommend walking shoes that have a good level of padding or walking socks that offer cushioning. There are a few sections of the route which include mountain paths, in particular in Stage 1 in the Alps. For this part of the route waterproof walking boots with good ankle support and sturdy tread are recommended. If travelling in the spring or autumn it can be cool in the morning, but it soon heats up in the late morning and afternoon so make sure and bring some layers with you. During the summer months, the area can be prone to afternoon thunderstorms, so waterproofs are also essential in case of heavy showers, or you may find since it’s still hot that a lightweight rain poncho is more suitable. Our information pack has a list of all the equipment you will need, along with some helpful suggestions.
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment. We’re taking action to minimise the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery. On this tour, most of your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website and the Macs Adventure Smartphone App.
You may be able to take public transport or taxis onto the next accommodation, please check with the accommodation provider or our local partner as they are best able to give you up to date advice.
Each morning where a baggage transfer is required, just leave your main bag in the reception/luggage storage area and we will have them transferred to the next location. Please limit the weight of your baggage to 20 kg per bag (one piece per person).
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