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The Via Francigena is an ancient pilgrim trail which runs some 1018 miles (1800km) from Canterbury in the English county of Kent to Rome. Leading down through North Eastern France to Switzerland, across the Alps via the Great St Bernard Pass and then onward through Italy to reach the ‘Eternal City’, it was a difficult and often dangerous journey. The route was not limited to a single road but comprised several possible routes that changed over the centuries reflective of trade routes, the often turbulent political situation and the popularity of the shrines of a variety of saints. These same pilgrim routes, supported a thriving trading activity were used by armies in times of war armies following established tracks.
The Via Francigena route beginning at Canterbury cathedral follows the path taken by Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury who travelled to Rome in 990 to meet Pope John XV and receive his investiture pallium. The 79 stages recorded in Sigeric’s diary of his journey back to Canterbury have made it possible to retrace the key stops on this, the shortest route between Canterbury and Rome, which first became known as the Via Francigena in 876. Via Francigena was designated a European Cultural Route by The Council of Europe in 1994.
