Via Francigena Stage 6: San Miniato - Buonconvento

Complete this section of the pilgrimage route as an individual stage, or add further sections at the same time. This particular section is graded as moderate. You will walk through quintessential Tuscan landscapes and vineyards and stay in the famed hill top towns and villages of Siena and San Gimignano.

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 and therefore 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 - you'll be walking through hilly Tuscany.

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. 

You need to be a regular walker and in good physical shape to complete this section of the route. There are no technical challenges on this stage of the Via Francigena due to the few climbs and the good accessibility of the paths. It is ideal if you have some pilgrimage or hiking experience and a good basic level of fitness. We recommend taking training walks carrying your daypack ahead of going on this trip.

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 this does become sparser. Along the length of the route, it also travels through several different municipalities and the style of the markers can vary between them and not every region has invested in consistently waymarking the trail.

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 mountain paths and 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.

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.

San Miniato has a railway station and is on the Florence/Pisa line. Therefore you could fly into either Florence or Pisa and then take a train to San Miniato (1-2 hours from either airport). Please check the Trenitalia website for more information on fares and schedules.

You can take a train from Buonconvento to Florence or Pisa. To Pisa is approximately 2H20 and you will need to change in Empoli and Pisa to get to the airport. To Florence Airport it takes a little longer, 2H30 and again there will be a couple of changes. To get to Rome Airport by train is about 4H 15 and again will involve a few changes, depending on the time of day. 

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.