VIA FRANCIGENA: FINAL STAGE MONTEFIASCONE TO ROME SUMMARY VIA FRANCIGENA: FINAL STAGE The final stage of the Via Francigena takes you from the hill top town of Montefiascone to Rome, the eternal city. During your journey along this ancient pilgrimage route you will follow trails through the classic Italian landscapes and rolling hills of Umbria and Lazio. Walk through rural and pristine areas of Italy that many tourists do not visit and become immersed in the true culture of these stunning regions passing many hill-top villages, Etruscan and Roman remains, papal palaces and thermal pools. Begin in Montefiascone, a town from which there are great views over Lago di Bolsena which was formed in the crater of an ancient volcano. As you continue on your intriguing journey you will encounter the Bagnaccio thermal pools in which you can take a break and enjoy a soak in the milky green and steaming Tour: Via Francigena: Final Stage waters. Another highlight is Viterbo, which despite suffering heavy bombing in WWII is the best preserved Code: WISGVFMR medieval town in the Lazio region. Type: Self-guided walk Price: See website Spend a night in Sutri and wander through its enchanting old quarter discovering the Roman amphitheatre Single Supplement: See website and the place of worship, the Mithraem. Pass rivers, streams and waterfalls and walk through the stunning Dates: mid-April to end October and serene green valley of Sorbo where you will see grazing wild horses. On this tour you will walk directly Duration: 8 Days & 7 Nights into Rome through the parks of Insugherata and Mt Mario. Walking Days: 6 Start: Montefiascone The final stage of the Via Francigena is 8 days and includes 7 nights in comfortable hotels or B&B’s, 7 Finish: Rome breakfasts, detailed route notes, maps, and a comprehensive information pack. Distance: ~121km Grade: Moderate HIGHLIGHTS Is it for me? You can either complete this section of the pilgrim- Encountering the enchanting old quarter and Roman amphitheatre in Sutri age route as a self-guided walking tour in its own right, or you may complete more or all of the sec- Enjoying the camaraderie of fellow hikers and pilgrims tions at the same time. This particular section is Bathing in the thermal pools of Bagnaccio graded as moderate because of the daily distances which are between 16 and 25 km. Classic and rural Becoming immersed in the culture and history of Lazio and Umbria hill top villages, Etruscan and Roman remains, Savouring a chilled glass of the famous Est! Est!! Est!!! wine in Montefiascone stunning scenery and local wine and food are the highlights on this pilgrimage route. Exploring Rome and all of its iconic sights What’s Included? WHY CHOOSE MACS ADVENTURE? Accommodation: 7 Nights in comfortable hotels or B&B’s. Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We are Meals: 7 Breakfasts. passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays where every last detail is taken care of. As Information Pack: Detailed maps, route active walkers with a passion for travel we understand what makes for an unforgettable adventure. Great notes and information pack. trails, breath-taking scenery and warm, welcoming accommodation, wonderful food and wine, all backed Emergency Support: 24/7 telephone sup- up by outstanding customer service. port from our area manager and UK office. Baggage Transfer: Baggage transfers are Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs not included but you can opt to pay extra for Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately. this service. VIA FRANCIGENA: FINAL STAGE MONTEFIASCONE TO ROME volcanic hot spring. The Romans used to bathe Etruscan necropolis’s which have again been DETAILED ITINERARY here and little has changed at this site for 2,000 formed out of the rock and the Mithraem, a years. place of worship, which has now been Tour Code: WISGVFMR converted into the Church of Santa Maria del Arrive in Viterbo, the best preserved medieval Duration: 8 Days & 7 Nights Parto and has amazing frescoes. Interestingly town in Lazio and the 13th century residence of Walking Days: 6 Sutri is also situated along the Via Cassia, a the popes. road linking Rome with northern Italy and at Day Route km Walk: 18km certain stretches you will walk along this ancient route too. 1 Arrive in Montefiascone - Overnight: Small Hotel, Viterbo Walk: 16km 2 Walk to Viterbo 18 DAY 3 3 Walk to Caprarola 18 Overnight: 2* Hotel, Sutri 4 Walk to Sutri 16 Viterbo to Caprarola 5 Walk to Campagano di 23.5 DAY 5 On this part of the Via Francigena you will follow Roma the route that takes you past Lake Vico which is Sutri to Campagnano di Roma 6 Walk to Isola Farnese 20.5 nestled in the Cimini Hills that rise up from the 7 Walk to Rome 25 Today includes walks through fields and past plains. It is a beautiful and unspoilt area full of 8 Onward travel - rivers and impressive waterfalls, such as Monte mature oak woodlands that drop down to the Gelato which is a great place to relax, swim and crystal clear lake. In medieval towns pilgrims have a break. Continue to follow the trail which also took this route to avoid a marshy plain DAY 1 becomes a flagged Roman road and which where the risk of getting malaria was very high. Arrive in Montefiascone eventually leads you to Campagnano di Roma, Once you are past Lake Vico spend the night in first mentioned in 1076. As you approach you Arrive in Montefiascone from where there are Caprarola whose countryside is dominated by will see it rising above the landscape. delightful views over Lake Bolsena and the the Renaissance mansion of Villa Farnese, Walk: 23.5km Crimini Mountains. Spend time here discovering originally a fortress. the frescoes in San Flaviano, many of which Overnight: 2* Hotel, Campagnano di Roma were attributed to unknown painters from Walk: 18km nearby Siena and which depict the lives of early DAY 6 Overnight: B&B, Caprarola martyrs. Also visit the Fortress of the Popes, an Campagnano di Roma to Isola imposing building which dominates DAY 4 Montefiascone’s skyline. This evening enjoy a Farnese chilled glass of Est! Est!! Est!!, the wine that this Caprarola to Sutri On your route today pass the Sanctuary of the region is famous for. Depart from Caprarola and follow a trail which Madonna del Sorbo which is dramatically traverses the summit ridges of the Cimini Hills positioned on a rocky spur overlooking the Overnight: 3* Hotel, Montefiascone with beautiful views everywhere you turn. Sorbo Valley and then pass the interesting DAY 2 These volcanic hills are densely wooded and Etruscan ruins of Veii which in the 6th century part of the Antiapennine range. was the greatest centre for the fabrication of Montefiascone to Viterbo terra-cotta sculptures in Etruria. In its heyday As you approach Sutri you can see that it is The trail that you are following today takes you Veii was as big as Athens and had a population situated picturesquely and dramatically on a tuff on a plain that divides Lake Bolsena from the of about 100,000 inhabitants. Spend time here hill. During Roman times it occupied a Cimini Mountains. A great highlight is exploring the ruins before continuing on to Isola commanding position on the road to Etruria and encountering the Bagnaccio thermal pools. Farnese, the location of your stay tonight. you will be able to discover its amazing Roman Don’t forget to pack a swimming suit so that you ruins, specifically the Roman amphitheatre Walk: 20.5km can take a break here. The pools are steamy which was carved out of the tuff rock, the and milky green and are the result of a natural Overnight: 3* Hotel, Isola Farnese VIA FRANCIGENA: FINAL STAGE MONTEFIASCONE TO ROME DAY 7 accommodation in these places are the best that Experience & Fitness these particular areas have to offer. Isola Farnese to Rome This tour is suitable for most people that are in Alternate accommodation good physical condition. It is rated moderate as From Isola Farnese you follow the authentic the daily distances are between 16 and 25 km. During the high season you might be booked into route on the Via Francigena along the Via There are some elevations gains and losses alternative accommodations which are not listed Trionfale. Although this is the official route please along the way. As this route tries to remain as in the tour webpage. If those listed are note that you will be walking through the suburbs true to the original pilgrimage route as possible, unavailable the alternative accommodation will of Rome so it will be quite noisy with lots of not only will you walk on trails and unpaved be of the same or better standard as those traffic. If you are not particular about taking the roads, but also on asphalt part of the way. authentic route you have two other choices, the described. Equipment first is to take a train to Rome, or a transfer can Single Rooms & Solo Walkers be offered (with an extra cost) to the beginning of Our pre-departure information pack has detailed If you require single rooms within your party we the Via Appia Antica, which you can follow into advice and a kit list on what to take. This would be happy to accommodate you although Rome, although it does finish a few kilometres includes good waterproof gear, walking shoes/ there is a single room supplement payable.