• ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.
  • Remove ads on the forum by becoming a donating member. More here.

Search 74,075 Camino Questions

The Grand Tour d'Italia

Dave

Veteran Member
Time of past OR future Camino
First: Camino Francés 2002; most recent: Norte/Primitivo 2019
In a little over a month, I'm heading out on the first leg of a six-month journey across Italy, following a whole bunch of different pilgrimage and walking routes. In the spring, I'll start in Matera, loop south around the heel, and then proceed northward, finishing on the Slovenian border in mid-May. After 90 days pass and Schengen permits, I'll fly back to Europe, resuming my walk in Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Switzerland, so that I can partially earn my crossing at Grand Saint Bernard before proceeding southward, eventually finishing in Palermo, Sicily in November.

Here's a quick snapshot of the different routes I'll be following:

Spring: The First Half
  • Part 1: The Cammino Materano, Via Ellenica, Matera to Crispiano
  • Part 2: Freestyling the Western Heel, Crispiano to Santa Maria di Leuca (with a bit of the future Via Jonica, as well as the Cammino di Don Tonino)
  • Part 3A: The Via Francigena Sud, Santa Maria di Leuca to Brindisi
  • Part 3B: Via Ellenica Variant, Brindisi to Alberobello to Monopoli
  • Part 3C: The Via Francigena Sud, Variante Mare, Monopoli to Monte Sant'Angelo
  • Part 3D: The Monte Sant'Angelo Francigena, MSA to Troia
  • Part 3E: The Via Francigena Sud, Troia to Teano
  • Part 4: The Cammino di San Benedetto, Montecassino to Norcia
  • Part 5: The Via di Francesco, Roma to La Verna
  • Part 6: The Cammino di Sant'Antonio, La Verna to Gemona del Friuli
  • Part 7: The Cammino Via Flavia (and some freestyling) Gemona del Friuli to Santuario di Muggia Vecchia
Fall: The Second Half
  • Part 1 - Via Francigena, Bourg-Saint-Pierre to Pavia
  • Part 2 - Via degli Abati, Via del Mare, Freestyling, Pavia to Genova
  • Part 3 - Via della Costa, Genova to Sarzana
  • Part 4 - Via Francigena again, Sarzana to Roma
  • Part 5 - Via Francigena Sud, Roma to Teano
  • Part 6 - Freestyling, Teano to Lauria
  • Part 7 - Cammino Basiliano, Lauria to Reggio di Calabria
  • Part 8 - Via Normanna, Messina to Randazzo
  • Part 9 - Via Fabaria, Randazzo to Agrigento
  • Part 10 - Magna Via Francigena, Agrigento to Palermo
Seems like a good way to celebrate the Jubilee. Hope to see some other English-speaking pilgrims out there, though I'm not expecting many outside of the VF proper and the Via di Francesco.

Dave
 
Before the Camino: Your Pocket Guide to Prepare Your Body and Mind for the Camino
It sounds like a grand tour for sure, Dave, and what's not to love about Italy! My maiden surname is Fontana, if that tells you anything.🙂
I will tag along in spirit and watch for your postings; hopefully on a "Live" thread.
 
What an epic plan! The Via Ellenica and VdF are two of my absolute favourites, and Matera is an extraordinary place to begin this odyssey. Make sure to contact the association for the VE as they will give you an amazing welcome. Buon cammino and shout out if you need anything locally (I am a Roman at heart, currently displaced in Milan).
 
3rd Edition. Vital content training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
In a little over a month, I'm heading out on the first leg of a six-month journey across Italy, following a whole bunch of different pilgrimage and walking routes. In the spring, I'll start in Matera, loop south around the heel, and then proceed northward, finishing on the Slovenian border in mid-May. After 90 days pass and Schengen permits, I'll fly back to Europe, resuming my walk in Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Switzerland, so that I can partially earn my crossing at Grand Saint Bernard before proceeding southward, eventually finishing in Palermo, Sicily in November.

Here's a quick snapshot of the different routes I'll be following:

Spring: The First Half
  • Part 1: The Cammino Materano, Via Ellenica, Matera to Crispiano
  • Part 2: Freestyling the Western Heel, Crispiano to Santa Maria di Leuca (with a bit of the future Via Jonica, as well as the Cammino di Don Tonino)
  • Part 3A: The Via Francigena Sud, Santa Maria di Leuca to Brindisi
  • Part 3B: Via Ellenica Variant, Brindisi to Alberobello to Monopoli
  • Part 3C: The Via Francigena Sud, Variante Mare, Monopoli to Monte Sant'Angelo
  • Part 3D: The Monte Sant'Angelo Francigena, MSA to Troia
  • Part 3E: The Via Francigena Sud, Troia to Teano
  • Part 4: The Cammino di San Benedetto, Montecassino to Norcia
  • Part 5: The Via di Francesco, Roma to La Verna
  • Part 6: The Cammino di Sant'Antonio, La Verna to Gemona del Friuli
  • Part 7: The Cammino Via Flavia (and some freestyling) Gemona del Friuli to Santuario di Muggia Vecchia
Fall: The Second Half
  • Part 1 - Via Francigena, Bourg-Saint-Pierre to Pavia
  • Part 2 - Via degli Abati, Via del Mare, Freestyling, Pavia to Genova
  • Part 3 - Via della Costa, Genova to Sarzana
  • Part 4 - Via Francigena again, Sarzana to Roma
  • Part 5 - Via Francigena Sud, Roma to Teano
  • Part 6 - Freestyling, Teano to Lauria
  • Part 7 - Cammino Basiliano, Lauria to Reggio di Calabria
  • Part 8 - Via Normanna, Messina to Randazzo
  • Part 9 - Via Fabaria, Randazzo to Agrigento
  • Part 10 - Magna Via Francigena, Agrigento to Palermo
Seems like a good way to celebrate the Jubilee. Hope to see some other English-speaking pilgrims out there, though I'm not expecting many outside of the VF proper and the Via di Francesco.

Dave
Hi Dave, interesting tour.
As for the first/part 2: you also have Via Sallentina option, still in develpment.
Second/part 2: Via degli Abati would be interesting till Pontremoli, and from there via Francigena. Also check the "new" Via dei Celti e dei Liguri. "Via del Mare" is also "Via del Sale" (it's a network of trails), again recommended.
Buon cammino
 
Is the Alberobello-Monopoli part 'freestyling'? The variant only goes to Alberobello as far as I'm aware.
Yep, that's also me just winging it. Some broad brushstrokes going on in some of those route descriptions! And thank you for the offer of support.
Will there be a book or two emerging from your odyssey?
That's the goal! I have a Camino project that I'm trying to complete a draft of before this month, and then I need to write something out of the US walk. An Italy book is part three of the plan for my break from teaching, but I'll have the winter to work on it. Should be possible!
Hi Dave, interesting tour.
As for the first/part 2: you also have Via Sallentina option, still in develpment.
Second/part 2: Via degli Abati would be interesting till Pontremoli, and from there via Francigena. Also check the "new" Via dei Celti e dei Liguri. "Via del Mare" is also "Via del Sale" (it's a network of trails), again recommended.
Buon cammino
Whoa... I don't know how I missed that, but you're right, the Via Sallentina is exactly what I was looking for! I've now found gps tracks, so I'll mess around with those a bit tonight. Thank you for the suggestion! I'm sticking with the freestyle plan after Bobbio just because I want to see Genoa and to walk the coast through Cinque Terre, but I'm sad to miss Pontremoli on this walk, which I love.
 
Train for your next Camino on California's Santa Catalina Island March 30 to April 2
So does the OP, which is why he's doing it in two parts.
I guess my skim reading technique of the large volume of posts on this thread failed me. I am on the forum looking for occasional nuggets of gold(en information), but sometimes also trying to help others, perhaps.
 
In a little over a month, I'm heading out on the first leg of a six-month journey across Italy, following a whole bunch of different pilgrimage and walking routes. In the spring, I'll start in Matera, loop south around the heel, and then proceed northward, finishing on the Slovenian border in mid-May. After 90 days pass and Schengen permits, I'll fly back to Europe, resuming my walk in Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Switzerland, so that I can partially earn my crossing at Grand Saint Bernard before proceeding southward, eventually finishing in Palermo, Sicily in November.

Here's a quick snapshot of the different routes I'll be following:

Spring: The First Half
  • Part 1: The Cammino Materano, Via Ellenica, Matera to Crispiano
  • Part 2: Freestyling the Western Heel, Crispiano to Santa Maria di Leuca (with a bit of the future Via Jonica, as well as the Cammino di Don Tonino)
  • Part 3A: The Via Francigena Sud, Santa Maria di Leuca to Brindisi
  • Part 3B: Via Ellenica Variant, Brindisi to Alberobello to Monopoli
  • Part 3C: The Via Francigena Sud, Variante Mare, Monopoli to Monte Sant'Angelo
  • Part 3D: The Monte Sant'Angelo Francigena, MSA to Troia
  • Part 3E: The Via Francigena Sud, Troia to Teano
  • Part 4: The Cammino di San Benedetto, Montecassino to Norcia
  • Part 5: The Via di Francesco, Roma to La Verna
  • Part 6: The Cammino di Sant'Antonio, La Verna to Gemona del Friuli
  • Part 7: The Cammino Via Flavia (and some freestyling) Gemona del Friuli to Santuario di Muggia Vecchia
Fall: The Second Half
  • Part 1 - Via Francigena, Bourg-Saint-Pierre to Pavia
  • Part 2 - Via degli Abati, Via del Mare, Freestyling, Pavia to Genova
  • Part 3 - Via della Costa, Genova to Sarzana
  • Part 4 - Via Francigena again, Sarzana to Roma
  • Part 5 - Via Francigena Sud, Roma to Teano
  • Part 6 - Freestyling, Teano to Lauria
  • Part 7 - Cammino Basiliano, Lauria to Reggio di Calabria
  • Part 8 - Via Normanna, Messina to Randazzo
  • Part 9 - Via Fabaria, Randazzo to Agrigento
  • Part 10 - Magna Via Francigena, Agrigento to Palermo
Seems like a good way to celebrate the Jubilee. Hope to see some other English-speaking pilgrims out there, though I'm not expecting many outside of the VF proper and the Via di Francesco.

Dave
Extraordinary planning and then ....go with the flow. I'm doing Cantebury to Roma, so might see you......
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
So does the OP, which is why he's doing it in two parts.
I've been looking into the VF from Canterbury for future walk, and have done some prelim research on obtaining a long-stay visa from France (which would also allow you to travel to other EU countries outside the 90 day Schengen period), it seems like it might be doable if I present my itinerary and proof of insurance and adequate funds not to be a burden on the state. I'd like to be able to do it all in one trip, but I think that would be at least 110 days, maybe 120 depending on rest days and maybe spending more time in Italy after reaching Rome. I haven't done more than the prelim research, so I don't know for sure if it's doable or how hard it will be. Maybe Italy has similar long-term visa options? Once I start the process (not likely until 2026 or 2027), I will post about it here. Curious if others have tried to do it?
 
My understanding, which is very limited, is that the long-stay visa in France is an option for Americans (and maybe other nationalities) based on the particular relationship between the countries, and no such equivalent exists for Italy. I should note that in my case, though, I'm quite content with splitting my walk between spring and fall. As a teacher, every walk I've made on the Via Francigena in the past has been in the summer. I'm excited to see the country outside of a heat wave. I definitely see why folks walking Canterbury to Rome would prefer the idea of one, continuous walk, though.
 

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Most read last week in this forum

Would anyone like to tell me about the Canal du Midi? Could I combine walking, cycling, boating? I'm just starting my investigation, so any ideas are welcome. I'm 73, have walked 4 caminos alone...
In a little over a month, I'm heading out on the first leg of a six-month journey across Italy, following a whole bunch of different pilgrimage and walking routes. In the spring, I'll start in...
I am starting weekend dayhikes from my hometown of Tallinn, Estonia. The branch trail that connects to Camino Latvia in Valga / Valka is 330km long. Its a very new Camino trail. The yellow arrows...
Snowing here in the south of England atm so thinking about camino plans. I have half a created plan for a made up route fro Madrid to Salamanca then on ‘normal’ camino routes but Italy has been...
I want to start the Via Francigena in Italy with a start at the end of January. I am aware that a winter walk may not be the best option but I am going to tackle it I’m thinking of starting...
Looking for recommendations. Only walking the last 100 km in late May.

Forum Zoom Chats

Join our Camino Forum Zoom chats every Tuesday. See the next one here.

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top