walking from Rome-on the via Francigena

[Sagalouts]

spending a week in Rome from the 29th July-then walking up Italy on the via Francigena and then the coastal route to Arles and on to Santiago-hoping to walk all of it,but who knows,A lot depends on the expense.my budget will be 20 euro a day for as long as I want ( pension).
I have looked at many links and gained much info,thanks to everyone-but still not sure about the amount of pilgrim accommodation in Italy or the signing for someone walking backwards so to speak plus can I get a credencial in Rome?
I'm sure I will find out once I get walking-but it would be good to get some personal thoughts from those that have walked on any of these routes.
I will try and blog and post live as I walk.
Ian

 

[robertt]

Whoa! Great undertaking, lout. I met a young couple while I was walking on the VF outside Siena who were doing it okay, though I'm not sure how. Apparently they did some monastery stays.

Anyway, stupendous plan! The only other thing I can tell you is that the VF in Tuscany takes in some great sights and towns.

Lout, I'm amazed. I hope it all happens for you.

Rob

 

[Sagalouts]

cheers Rob
looking forward to Italy having never been there-will just take it slowly piano piano my first words of Italian.
Ian

 

[sillydoll]

Hey Ian - these are the words you will need most.

Birra per favore
un letto per favore
Il cammino di Santiago?

My friend John wanted to walk from Rome to Santiago last year. I did a lot of research for him but the cost of it eventually put him off so he started in Arles instead. If you would like some of the research, including the 'GR 653 A - CHEMIN DE COMPOSTELLE ET DE ROME list of accommodation - send me an email and I'll pass it on to you.
He was going to walk the coastal route between Italy and Spain so I downloaded their daily guide and translated it for him.
http://www.viadellacosta.it/index.php?p ... menu_id=32

 

[newfydog]

We just got back fron mt biking Nice to Rome, completing our Santiago to Rome journey.

From Arles to Sarzana we hardly saw a single person on the trails. The trails are decently marked in some areas, but we had good GPS tracks in a Garmin Dakota which we ran all day. If staying on the official route is important to you, GPS will make life much easier.

There is a guidebook in Italian for the vie Della Costa. There are many guides to the Francigena, and there is no guidebook out yet for the Via Aurelia, from Menton to Arles.

I don't know much about inexpensive lodging; we somehow seek out the expensive options. I can say though, with the lack of pilgrims a system of albergues does not exist. There are individuals to contact along the way who can help find you a spot.

Here's some links:

Voie Aurelia, gr653A
http://www.compostelle-paca-corse.info/

Via Della Costa:
http://viadellacosta.it/

via Francigena;
http://www.camminafrancigena.it/en/

And of course

http://pilgrim.peterrobins.co.uk/routes/mapping.html

 

[Sagalouts]

thanks Sil and newfydog I love this forum.
I'm taking a light weight tent for my stay in the Abruzzi National park ( catching up with camino friends from 2010)just outside Rome,lets see how far I can carry it,my last one lasted 2 days out of le Puy before I ditched it.
again many thanks
Ian

 

[newfydog]

We did a long haul one day, past two towns we thought might have a place to stay with no luck.

We had passed a Swiss guy earlier in the day who had a tent. I guaranty he used it that night. A tent will give you a lot of freedom.

 

[William Marques]

Adelaide Trezzini of the AIVF is based in Rome so you may be able to get one there from them http://www.francigena-international.org ... hp?lang=en

There is some monastery accommodation but they often have a fixed rate there are a number of albergue like places springing up but they are still the exception rather than the rule and you may have found them in your web searching. This is one site
http://www.itineraria.eu/static/uploads ... egrina.pdf

When we did the Italian section of the VF in 2007 the way-marking was minimal but I understand it is much improved now.

The Italian St James Confraternity is at http://www.confraternitadisanjacopo.it/ who have albergues in Radicofani and Monteriggioni

 

[Alan Pearce]

Very much looking forward to your news as you go. Buen camino!

Alan.

Be brave. Life is joyous.

 

[Sagalouts]

well I'm off,will be in Rome on Sunday all being well,done no training, will wing it when I get there.
someone once said that the most valuable commodity is information and thanks to this forum and the people on it I feel a very rich man,though the amount of printed downloads are the weight of a bag of gold so thanks once again to everybody.
Ian

 

[robertt]

I'm following you excitedly, lout. This is so cool.

Of course, it's in the back of my mind that if a Pom can do it, then an Aussie will kill it. But I'll be polite and let you go first!

Un bacione a Mamma Roma!

Rob

 

[William Marques]

Have a safe journey.

 

[LTfit]

Wing it as you say Ian. With all the km in your legs (muscles have memory you know) I am sure that you can do it.

Just returned myself but would pack up and join you if I could - what an adventure lies ahead of you.

Enjoy, take care and of course Buen Camino Pelegrino!

 

[petro]

Enjoy and Buen Camino!!!

 

[peregrina2000]

Buen camino, Ian. Can't wait to hear all about it. For those of us in post-camino blues phase, it's always a pepper-upper to hear live news from the Camino. Now that we've all adjusted to life without lovingkindness' live posts, it's nice of you to step up with another long distance pilgrimage to keep us happy. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Kialoa3]

All the best Ian. We will be looking forward to your posts. Enjoy.

 

[CaminoForCare]

Hey Ian - these are the words you will need most.

Birra per favore
un letto per favore
Il cammino di Santiago?

My friend John wanted to walk from Rome to Santiago last year. I did a lot of research for him but the cost of it eventually put him off so he started in Arles instead. If you would like some of the research, including the 'GR 653 A - CHEMIN DE COMPOSTELLE ET DE ROME list of accommodation - send me an email and I'll pass it on to you.
He was going to walk the coastal route between Italy and Spain so I downloaded their daily guide and translated it for him.
http://www.viadellacosta.it/index.php?p ... menu_id=32

Hi,
Any chance you would still be willing to share some of that info. I'm hoping to do this walk starting in 2 weeks.
Any info would be great!
Best,
Marco

 

[sillydoll]

s

Hi,
Any chance you would still be willing to share some of that info. I'm hoping to do this walk starting in 2 weeks.
Any info would be great!
Best,
Marco

Send me an email - amawalkerscamino@mweb.co.za and I"ll send you all the info I've got. Some of it will be outdated but the Via francigena Facebook Group might be able to up-date you.

 

[Jotown]

Hi,
Any chance you would still be willing to share some of that info. I'm hoping to do this walk starting in 2 weeks.
Any info would be great!
Best,
Marco

Hi Marco , not quite sure which bit you're interested in ... I walked the VF from England to Rome last year

If it's Italy , there is an app from Sloways' which has maps etc for all of Italy from GSB pass to Rome , very useful And free !!
I also picked up info sheets on accommodation as I went along in Italy , although I had the Lightfoot guides with me as well

Although I don't do Facebook I understand there is a group on it with lots of useful information

There are several other useful groups/ associations on the internet which are useful

If you need anymore just ask and I'll try to help

 

[sillydoll]

I started a Rome - Santiago - Rome Facebook group today.

 

[David Edmond]

Hey Ian - these are the words you will need most.

Birra per favore
un letto per favore
Il cammino di Santiago?

My friend John wanted to walk from Rome to Santiago last year. I did a lot of research for him but the cost of it eventually put him off so he started in Arles instead. If you would like some of the research, including the 'GR 653 A - CHEMIN DE COMPOSTELLE ET DE ROME list of accommodation - send me an email and I'll pass it on to you.
He was going to walk the coastal route between Italy and Spain so I downloaded their daily guide and translated it for him.
http://www.viadellacosta.it/index.php?p ... menu_id=32

Hi Sillydoll
Since walking the VDLP in 2014 I have been thinking about the walk from Rome to Santiago
I see in your above post that you may be able send research gained from a friend
It would be a big help to me to gain this info and may help much with my planning.
If it is at all possible.
Below is my email
(private email deleted by moderator. Please use the PM function)
Look forward to hearing from you
David

 

[sillydoll]

Hi Sillydoll
Since walking the VDLP in 2014 I have been thinking about the walk from Rome to Santiago
I see in your above post that you may be able send research gained from a friend
It would be a big help to me to gain this info and may help much with my planning.
If it is at all possible.
Below is my email
davidedmond1962@gmail.com
Look forward to hearing from you
David

Hi David,

I will send you the research that I did for John. It is also available on the Rome-Santiago-Rome Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/468490190178597/ If you are on Facebook you could join the group and find out more recent news about this route.

Sil