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Is sleeping bag really needed on VF Siena to Rome?

Anna Sar

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Spain, Portugal, France, Italy
I tried to review this forum and other places to get the answer but I am still not sure.
I was walking Cammino di Assisi last year with my sleeping bag and it was unnecessary baggage. Blankets were everywhere. As we all know every gram counts (especially that I will walk with a bit of injury).
I am interested in pilgrim dedicated places (private accommodations always have some blankets or duvets). Is anyone able to advise from their experience? I would be very grateful.
 
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I don't have an answer for the VF section, but a question for you. You mentioned that on the Cammino di Assisi sleeping bags are not necessary. Did you stay in pilgrim-oriented (cheaper) rifugi and "religious" accommodations? I had heard that in these accommodations between Dovadola and Assisi sometimes sleeping bags were needed. I'm hoping to do the pilgrimage next April/May. Should we leave our bags at home?
 
Yes, I stayed with pilgrim rifugios as listed by Cammino di Assisi association. And I needed my sleeping bag one time, in private rifugio, second night. But I think I would get a blanket if I told them I didn't have my sleeping bag with me. You may consider having light silk sheet instead as I suppose those blankets are not washed frequently. Yet I wouldn't call them dirty or so, not at all, just you know, to have your own layer in between. That is in fact what I am planning to do this year.
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
Thanks, that's very helpful.
Did you go on from Assisi to Rome? If so, how was the accommodation situation on that stretch? I've gotten the impression that from Assisi to Rome accommodation is rather expensive and a pilgrim needs to be rather well off in order to afford it.
 
You need a sleeping bag liner at the least to stay in the ostelli. They often check if you have one. As for a proper sleeping bag, it entirely depends on the time of year. However, there are usually blankets available.
 
Thank you Harington.
Ruedi: I didn't walk from Assisi to Rome. I wanted to continue this year but I chose Via Francigena from Siena instead for exactly the same reason - accommodation.
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
Hi Anna - I walked from Aosta to Villafranca in Lunigiana on the VF last September/October and didn’t have a sleeping bag. I found I really needed one after the first Parocchial albergue. I ended up buying a really cheap and lightweight throw rug as a substitute. My experience, and of course it’s not everyone’s, was that some of the Parocchials were not as well maintained as the albergues on the various caminos in Spain and some of them were much less than clean and there were no blankets in some. For your own comfort and a good night’s sleep, your sleeping bag is your insurance policy - take it.
 
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