On foot | Stage by stage | Italy

Via Francigena — Lucca to Rome

390 km from Lucca to Rome in 18 days. The most scenic section, and the one that earns the testimonium.

390 kmTotal distance
8,500 mTotal climbing
18 daysStages on foot
22 kmAverage per day

The full Via Francigena runs from Canterbury to Rome, around 1,900 km. Most people walk the Italian part, and within it Lucca to Rome — Tuscany, Val d'Orcia, Lake Bolsena and the entry along the Via Cassia.

It is far quieter than the Camino Francés, so beds cannot be improvised — many villages have two or three places and they fill up.

Stage simulator

How many km and how many days?

The full route is 405 km and about 18 days. Enter any km and days: if you are not doing it in one go, split it into several trips.

18 days, 405.1 km and 8300 m of climbing: about 22.5 km a day and 17 nights on the way.

  1. Lucca → Altopascio22.5 km · 400 m D+Sleep: Altopascio · Eat: Galleno
  2. Altopascio → San Miniato22.5 km · 400 m D+Sleep: San Miniato
  3. San Miniato → Gambassi Terme22.5 km · 500 m D+Sleep: Gambassi Terme · Eat: Coiano
  4. Gambassi Terme → San Gimignano22.5 km · 500 m D+Sleep: San Gimignano
  5. San Gimignano → Monteriggioni25 km · 550 m D+Sleep: Monteriggioni · Eat: Colle di Val d'Elsa
  6. Monteriggioni → Siena25 km · 550 m D+Sleep: Siena
  7. Siena → Ponte d'Arbia25 km · 550 m D+Sleep: Ponte d'Arbia · Eat: Buonconvento
  8. Ponte d'Arbia → San Quirico d'Orcia25 km · 550 m D+Sleep: San Quirico d'Orcia
  9. San Quirico d'Orcia → Radicofani20 km · 467 m D+Sleep: Radicofani · Eat: Bagno Vignoni
  10. Radicofani → Proceno20 km · 467 m D+Sleep: Proceno
  11. Proceno → Acquapendente20 km · 467 m D+Sleep: Acquapendente
  12. Acquapendente → Montefiascone36.6 km · 666 m D+Sleep: Montefiascone · Eat: San Lorenzo Nuovo
  13. Montefiascone → Vetralla40.8 km · 783 m D+Sleep: Vetralla · Eat: Capranica
  14. Vetralla → Sutri22.5 km · 450 m D+Sleep: Sutri
  15. Sutri → Campagnano13.8 km · 250 m D+Sleep: Campagnano · Eat: Monterosi
  16. Campagnano → La Storta13.8 km · 250 m D+Sleep: La Storta
  17. La Storta → Rome13.8 km · 250 m D+Sleep: Rome
  18. Rome → Roma13.8 km · 250 m D+Sleep: Roma

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Stages and sections

Approximate distances and climbing. Every guidebook and GPX varies by a few kilometres.

SectionKmD+DaysSleepEat
Lucca - San Miniato45 km800 m2Altopascio, San MiniatoGalleno, Fucecchio
San Miniato - San Gimignano45 km1,000 m2Gambassi Terme, San GimignanoCoiano, Pancole
San Gimignano - Siena50 km1,100 m2Monteriggioni, SienaColle di Val d'Elsa
Siena - San Quirico d'Orcia50 km1,100 m2Ponte d'Arbia, San QuiricoBuonconvento, Torrenieri
San Quirico d'Orcia - Acquapendente60 km1,400 m3Radicofani, Proceno, AcquapendenteBagno Vignoni, Ponte a Rigo
Acquapendente - Viterbo55 km1,000 m3Bolsena, Montefiascone, ViterboSan Lorenzo Nuovo, Bolsena
Viterbo - Sutri45 km900 m2Vetralla, SutriCapranica
Sutri - Roma55 km1,000 m3Campagnano, La Storta, RomeMonterosi, Isola Farnese
Stops along the route9

Four facts per village — what is worth a stop, where to sleep, where to eat and the practical warning.

LuccaSee — Walkable walls and Piazza Anfiteatro
Sleep — Altopascio, San Miniato
Eat — Galleno, Fucecchio
Good to know — Bike rental by the walls
See on the map
San Miniato · km 45See — Federico's tower and truffles
Sleep — Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano
Eat — Coiano, Pancole
Good to know — Final climb is hard in the heat
See on the map
San Gimignano · km 90See — Fourteen medieval towers
Sleep — Monteriggioni, Siena
Eat — Colle di Val d'Elsa
Good to know — Fill up — dry stage ahead
See on the map
Siena · km 140See — Piazza del Campo and the Duomo
Sleep — Ponte d'Arbia, San Quirico
Eat — Buonconvento, Torrenieri
Good to know — City centre closed to traffic
See on the map
San Quirico d'Orcia · km 190See — Val d'Orcia and Horti Leonini
Sleep — Radicofani, Proceno, Acquapendente
Eat — Bagno Vignoni, Ponte a Rigo
Good to know — White gravel sections
See on the map
Acquapendente · km 250See — Holy Sepulchre basilica
Sleep — Bolsena, Montefiascone, Viterbo
Eat — San Lorenzo Nuovo, Bolsena
Good to know — Basic services, few beds
See on the map
Viterbo · km 305See — San Pellegrino quarter and hot springs
Sleep — Vetralla, Sutri
Eat — Capranica
Good to know — Regional train to Rome in two hours
See on the map
Sutri · km 350See — Amphitheatre carved into rock
Sleep — Campagnano, La Storta, Rome
Eat — Monterosi, Isola Farnese
Good to know — Traffic on this stage — take care
See on the map
Roma · km 405See — St Peter's, the Forum and Trastevere
Sleep — Campagnano, La Storta, Rome
Eat — Monterosi, Isola Farnese
Good to know — Testimonium at the Vatican office
See on the map

Daily distance by level

First timeThe last 100 km from Viterbo, in 5 days, earn the testimonium.
Normal paceLucca to Rome in 18 days, 22 km average with little shade.
Strong walkersLucca to Rome in 14 days; Radicofani is the serious climb.
By bike7 gravel days; signed cycling variants cover most of the route.

Travel and paperwork

Getting thereFly to Pisa or Florence, regional train to Lucca.
Getting backFly from Rome Fiumicino, direct train from Termini.
CredentialDaily stamps in the credenziale for the testimonium at St Peter's.
WaterLong dry sections between Radicofani and Proceno — two litres each.

Season — April to June and September to October. August in Tuscany goes past 35 degrees.

Keep it in your calendar

Once you build this route as a plan, every stage is a card with time, duration and place. From the plan link anyone can download the calendar (.ics) or add it to Google Calendar and Outlook, with reminders before each day and before payment or confirmation deadlines.

What to lock before you leave

Frequently asked questions

How long is Via Francigena — Lucca to Rome?390 km in total, with around 8,500 m of climbing.
How many days does it take?18 days on foot (22 km average per stage); 7 days by bike (56 km average per stage).
Where do people usually sleep?The usual overnight points are Altopascio, San Miniato, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Siena, Ponte d'Arbia, San Quirico. The stage table lists them section by section.
How many kilometres a day should I plan?First time: The last 100 km from Viterbo, in 5 days, earn the testimonium. Normal pace: Lucca to Rome in 18 days, 22 km average with little shade. Strong walkers: Lucca to Rome in 14 days; Radicofani is the serious climb. By bike: 7 gravel days; signed cycling variants cover most of the route.
When is the best time to go?April to June and September to October. August in Tuscany goes past 35 degrees.

In Keago this route becomes a plan — one card per stage with time and duration, the daily track, each night's accommodation with link and location, the meals, and both travel tickets where the whole group can see them. Everyone confirms and you know who is missing.

Create your account and keep building your Via Francigena — Lucca to Rome plan.

It is free and takes a minute.

  • Save the plan and pick up where you left off
  • Carry it on your phone, map and times included
  • Send it to your group with one link
  • Download the itinerary and the calendar
Create my accountI already have an account