The Via Francigena

The Via Francigena is the modern version of an ancient path linking Canterbury and Rome. In 990 Sigeric the Serious was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope John XV and travelled to Rome. On his return journey from Rome back to Canterbury he made notes on his route. These gave the main outline of his path and have proved useful to pilgrims down through the ages. Many people walked during the second millennium. I plan to walk in the present millennium.  The path begins in Canterbury and on to Dover. From there the modern pilgrim crosses to Calais, although the port was Wissant, some miles to the west in Sigeric’s time. The road then passes through France, taking in Arras, Reims, and Besançon before passing through Lausanne in Switzerland and then crossing the Alps at the Great St Bernard Pass and then down through Italy to Rome. A total of about 2,000 km.

 

 

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