Via Francigena

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Route of the Via Francigena.

A sign showing the way, located in Italy.

The Via Francigena is an ancient road to Rome for those coming from France. It was an important medieval road and pilgrimage route connecting north-Western Europe with Rome and the harbours to Jerusalem in Apulia (Bari, Brindisi, Otranto).

1 The pilgrimage to Rome
2 Usage
3 The Via Francigena today
4 See also
5 Literature
6 External links

[edit] The pilgrimage to Rome

The Via Francigena was the major pilgrimage route to Rome during Medieval times; even today pilgrims travel this route but in far fewer numbers than the Way of St. James. The route was first documented in the 10th Century when the Archbishop of Canterbury Sigeric the Serious travelled to Rome to see the Pope in order to be consecrated.

The Via Francigena is not a single 'road' in the strict sense. It comprises a number of possible routes which changed over the centuries as trade and pilgrimage developed. Depending on the time of year, the political situation and the relative popularity of the shrines of saints along the route, travellers may have taken one of three or four crossings of the Alps and the Apennines. The Lombards paid for the maintenance and defence of the road as a trading route to the north from Rome, avoiding enemy held cities such as Florence.

[edit] Usage

It is not strictly correct to use the name via Francigena for the whole route used by archibishop Sigeric in the year 990. This is because the name Francigena means "generated in France" in Latin; therefore only the Italian part of the route can correctly be called "Francigena".

Image:Settimo Vittone Via Francigena.JPG

A steep section of the Via Francigena in Settimo Vittone, Piedmont

[edit] The Via Francigena today

Today those who make the pilgrimage to Rome on foot, horseback or bicycle still travel this route but in far fewer numbers than the Way of St. James. There are fewer facilities for pilgrims than on the Way of St. James and pilgrims are forced to camp out or stay in more expensive accommodation such as hotels and pensions.

The Via Francigena was designated a cultural route by the Council of Europe in 1994.

In November 2005, Italian politician Romano Prodi announced he would revitalize the Via Francigena if elected Prime Minister in the 2006 election.

On 11 August 2007, a group of 27 cyclists, including several members of Canterbury City Council set out from Canterbury Cathedral in an attempt to cycle the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome in 16 days to raise money for the restoration of Canterbury Cathedral and other charities.