Via Francigena – week 2

€ 900 (from) / Per person

Via Francigena – Week 2

This week of Via Francigena has it all: scenic lakes, medieval castles, picturesque vineyards & awe-inspiring sanctuaries. As you hike over hills & through the pine forests, make sure to stop & appreciate the unique “balmetti” cellars around Borgofranco d’Ivrea. From there, you can visit the red Ivrea towers. Built in 1358 as a defensive castle, the building was then transformed into a summer residence for the Savoy family, after which, from 1700 to 1970, the castle served as a local prison.

After the marvels of Ivrea, enjoy a picnic on the glacial lake with prehistoric dwellings, Lake Viverone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beyond the lake lies the sanctuary of Madonna della Bozzola, an important pilgrimage site from the 15th century to today. Your last stop will be the charming medieval town of Garlasco.

The second week of the Italian stretch of Via Francigena starts in Pont St Martin, which you can reach by train or bus from Milano (2h30). 

Waiting for you at your hotel will be the material you need for your trip: hotel vouchers and your credential for the pilgrim stamp.

  • 7 Days
  • Age 15+
  • Via Francigena

Highlights

  • Ivrea red towers
  • Scenic mountain landscapes
  • Viverone Lake
  • Pavia
  • The Madonna della Bozzola Sanctuary

How does it work

We book your accommodations

We will book double/single rooms with private bathrooms in 2* or 3* hotels, b&b or country Inns. and you will find the corresponding vouchers in your package

We transfer your luggage

Just leave it at the reception desk with your name tag and you will find it at your next accommodation.

We supply GPS files.

In order to be more eco-friendly, we will provide a GPX reader application with a user-friendly interface, allowing for easy and real-time navigation

Departure: Pont St. Martin
Destination: Garlasco
Included:
  • 7 nights (in 2/3 stars accommodation)
  • All breakfast (dinners on demand)
  • Emergency number 24/7
  • Gps files 
  • Luggage transfer
  • Pilgrim’s “Credenziale”
Excluded:
  • Dinners
  • Tips
  • Wine tasting

Map

Via Francigena week 2 from Pont St Martin to Garlasco

Tour Plan

01

Altitude at departure point: 345 mt

Day 1: Arrival in Pont St Martin

The departure point of the first stage is Pont Saint Martin, little village located on the frontier between Valle d’Aosta and Piedmont. It owes its name to the Roman bridge dating back in the I century B.C. . The second part of the name honors the Saint. In the neighborhood there is also the Strada delle Gallie (Gaul’s’ road), which arrived almost intact nowadays, with its pavement, one column and the arch built in the granite.

02

Distance 24 km (walking time 6 h)

Day 2: Pont St Martin - Ivrea

Today the itinerary winds among countryside areas, little villages and woods. From the hills located in the north of Ivrea, you will see, in the distance Montalto castle, a huge fortress with high towers dated back to 1300. The stage ends in Ivrea, located on the banks of the river Dora Baltea. In the towns you will find some important remains of the Roman Age and from medieval times, when Ivrea was protected by its walls and divided in “rioni” (quarters).

    Height at arrival 253 mt
03

Distance 21 km (walking time 5 h)

Day 3: Ivrea - Viverone

The first part of the today’s stage take place through open countryside. Interesting, the little village of Bollengo, the second part goes across the hills and offers nice views on the valley and then on the Lake of Viverone, with crystalline water and rich in uncontaminated plant and wildlife. Really nice to visit is the near village of Piverone, with the interesting Bell Tower.

    Height at the arrival 287 mt
04

Distance 17,7 km (walking time 4.10 h)

Day 4: Viverone - Santhià

After a quite walk along the lake of Viverone, you continues through a nice wooded area to cross one of the last hills before the agricultural plain. The fields gets the upper hand little by little while you reach Santhià, first village you meet during the long passage of the Padana plain. Santhià is an agricultural and industrial centre where two branches of the Francigena Way join on: one towards the Gran San Bernardo Pass and the other one towards the Susa Valley.

    Height at the arrival 183 mt
05

Distance 29,7 km (walking time 6.30 h)

Day 5: Santhià - Vercelli

This is the first stage completely flat. During spring the wide area of fields around Vercelli became a boundless water expanse, thanks to a complex net of water channels built for rice cultivation. The city of Vercelli is at the junction of two branches of the Francigena Way (Jacob toward Turin and Susa Valley, and Sigeric toward Valle d’Aosta). The medieval Cavour square is entirely surrounded by ancient houses with porch and the renowned Basilica of Saint Andrew is an absolute masterpiece of Romanesque-Gothic of North Italy.

    Height at the arrival 130 mt
06

Distance 19,5 km (walking time 4 h)

Day 6: Vercelli - Robbio

Out of Vercelli, after a short walk in the countryside, you walk along the banks of the river Sesia. The itinerary becomes wooded, and you cross the border between Piedmont and Lombardy. Near Palestro, you will leave the river and shortly you reach Robbio. This town is on the consular street that led to Gallie and had an important role since the ancient times. Today it is an agricultural and industrial centre in the pavese plain. TRAIN TO MORTARA AT THE END OF THE WALK.

    Height at the arrival 120 mt
07

Distance 20 km (walking time 5.5 h)

Day 7: Mortara - Garlasco

The today’s stage crosses the pavese countryside: farmhouses and imposing rural houses are like little dots among the wide cultivated fields. You will spend the night in Mortara which is the home of the Salame d’Oca (goose Salami) and it hosts an historical “palio” dating back to 1400, during which takes place the famous ”game of the goose”. Garlasco is well known for the Sanctuary of Madonna della Bozzola, 4 km from the town centre.

    Height at the arrival 93 mt
08

Day 8: End our service

See you next year to walk together the next stage

Photo Gallery