Section 3 of 4 · Italy (From the Alps to the Heart of Tuscany)

Via Francigena in Italy (Part 1): From the Aosta Valley to Siena

32 stages that capture the full geographical diversity of Europe: the steep descent from the Alps, the endless rice paddies of the Po Valley, crossing the Apennines over Passo della Cisa, and the iconic medieval hills of Tuscany.

From High Alpine Peaks to Tuscan Hills: What to Expect

Stepping onto Italian soil after leaving the Great St. Bernard Hospice behind changes the rules of the game completely. Here, the Via Francigena stops being a solitary survival trek and becomes a true pilgrimage route with constant waymarking, drinking water fountains in every square (fontanelle), cafés where you can grab an espresso or cappuccino at the counter for €1.30, and a network of parish and municipal hospitality that restores your energy.

• Aosta Valley & Piedmont: Five days of alpine descent past rocky castles, Roman roads carved straight into the bedrock (such as in Donnas), and heroic mountain vineyards until reaching the plains around Ivrea and Vercelli.
• The Po Valley Plains (Piedmont, Lombardy & Emilia-Romagna): From Vercelli to Piacenza and Fidenza, you walk across a pancake-flat plain dominated by flooded rice paddies and irrigation canals, including the famous boat crossing of the Po River. In summer, the humid heat and clouds of mosquitoes require starting at dawn and carrying strong repellent.
• The Apennines & Passo della Cisa: Starting in Fornovo di Taro, you climb back into the mountains. Reaching the sanctuary at Passo della Cisa marks the historic and spiritual gateway into Tuscany.
• Tuscany to Siena: From Pontremoli you pass the Apuan Alps, the Versilia coast (Pietrasanta), the walled city of Lucca, San Miniato, the medieval towers of San Gimignano, the fortress of Monteriggioni, and finally the monumental Piazza del Campo in Siena.

Official Stage Table: From Great St. Bernard to Siena (Stages 43 to 74)

Click on any Italian town below to open its exact location in Google Maps:

Key Locations on Google Maps

• 🏛️ Arch of Augustus in Aosta
• 🛶 Po River Boat Crossing (Corte Sant’Andrea / Soprarivo)
• ⛰️ Sanctuary of Passo della Cisa (1,041 m)
• 🏰 Lucca Cathedral (Volto Santo)
• 🗼 Medieval Towers of San Gimignano
• 🐎 Piazza del Campo in Siena