Via Francigena Resources

Books and Guides to Plan the Journey

Before starting my journey along the Via Francigena, I consulted several guidebooks that helped me plan the route, organize the stages, and better understand the regions I would cross.

Most of the books listed below are available only in Italian. However, they played an important role in preparing my 2,200 km walk from Canterbury to Rome.

• Fédération Française de la Via Francigena (FFVF), Pèlerins sur la Via Francigena de Canterbury au Grand-St-Bernard en cheminant par le Royaume-Uni, la France et la Suisse, Accommodation and Services Guide, Editions FFVF, 2022 (French edition – English edition available).
  → A practical guide focused on accommodation and services along the route.
• Roberta Ferraris, Luciano Callegari, Simone Frignani, La Via Francigena. 1.000 chilometri a piedi dal Gran San Bernardo a Roma, 3rd updated edition, Terre di Mezzo, 2019 (Italian edition – English edition available).
  → One of the most detailed and widely used guidebooks for the Italian section of the Via Francigena.
• Julien Moulin, Via Francigena. De Canterbury au col du Grand-Saint-Bernard, Éditions Favre SA, 2020 (French only).
  → Covers the route from England through France and Switzerland with maps and stage descriptions.
• Monica Nanetti, La Via Francigena svizzera. Dalla Francia all’Italia in undici tappe, Morelli Editore, 2020 (Italian only).
  → A focused guide on the Swiss section, divided into 11 stages.

Official Via Francigena Website

The website of the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways is the main reference point for up-to-date information about the route, its variants, accommodation, and any alerts along the way. It's available in both Italian and English.

Official Via Francigena website – viefrancigene.org

During the preparation of my journey, I consulted it frequently to verify stages and stay updated on the route conditions.

Books About the Via Francigena (Read Before My Journey)

In the years before my walk, I read several books about the Via Francigena, which helped me understand its history and the experiences of other pilgrims.

• Enrico Brizzi, Marcello Fini, I Diari della Via Francigena. Da Canterbury a Roma sulle tracce di viandanti e pellegrini, Ediciclo Editore, 2010 (Italian only).
  → A narrative journey following the footsteps of pilgrims from Canterbury to Rome.
• Lorenzo Del Boca, Angelo Moia, Sulla Via Francigena. Storia e geografia di un cammino millenario, UTET Editore, 2016 (Italian only).
  → A historical and geographical overview of the Via Francigena.
• Roberto Montella, Un mondo pellegrino. In viaggio lungo la Via Francigena. Da Canterbury al Gran San Bernardo, Besa Editrice, 2018 (Italian only).
  → A personal account of the journey across the northern part of the route.
• Roberto Montella, Dalle Alpi alla basilica di San Pietro. Lungo la Via Francigena. Un mondo pellegrino, Besa Editrice, 2018 (Italian only).
  → The continuation of the journey from the Alps to Rome.
• Renato Romano, Giorno dopo giorno. La Via Francigena, Passaggio al Bosco Editore, 2021 (Italian only).
  → A reflective day-by-day account of the pilgrimage experience.

My Book on the Via Francigena

After reading many books about the Via Francigena and other walking routes, I decided to share my own experience of walking the 2,200 km from Canterbury to Rome in this travel diary.

Written in Italian, based on my personal journey.

Discover the book

Books About Other Trails That Inspired Me

Over time, I also read books about other long-distance walks around the world, which inspired me before starting the Via Francigena.

• Riccardo Finelli, Destinazione Santiago, Sperling & Kupfer, 2017 (Italian only).
  → A journey along the Camino de Santiago.
• Luigi Gatti, Il cammino del Giappone. Shikoku e gli 88 templi, Mursia, 2017 (Italian only).
  → An introduction to the Japanese pilgrimage of Shikoku.
• Claudio Pelizzeni, L’orizzonte ogni giorno un po’ più in là, Sperling & Kupfer, 2017 (Italian only).
  → A story about travel, exploration and pushing personal limits.
• Claudio Pelizzeni, Il silenzio dei miei passi, Sperling & Kupfer, 2019 (Italian only).
  → A more introspective and reflective travel experience.
• Cheryl Strayed, Wild, 2016 (English edition available).
  → A powerful memoir about a solo journey along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and personal transformation.

Final Tip

If you don’t speak Italian or French, don’t worry: you can still plan and walk the Via Francigena using online resources, maps, and GPX tracks.

These books were part of my personal journey — and hopefully, they can inspire yours too.