Via Francigena (Canterbury - Rome)

[Peter Molog]

Not really a new route, the route was already described in the year 990.

But there is now a completely described route from Canterbury to Rome by bike.
The Italian part was already described and signposted a few years ago by the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (EAVF).
In the past year I have mapped the route from Canterbury to the Swiss/Italian border.



On my site is available:
All GPS tracks from Canterbury to the Grote Sint-Bernhard pass;
All elevation profiles from Canterbury to Rome (on the site of the EAVF these are missing for Italy);
and more.

CicloVia Francigena

Have fun.

[iandriver]

Have you seen the site for the Italian part? https://www.viefrancigene.org/en/resour ... gory/bici/

Having cycled a most of the part in Tuscany to Rome this year, the most useful information is probably the type of terrain you'll encounter on each section. Parts of it were fairly difficult off road, considerably hindering progress.

[Peter Molog]

Have you seen the site for the Italian part? https://www.viefrancigene.org/en/resour ... gory/bici/

Using that site since 2014, when I made my other Pilgrimsroute Emo's Reis (only in Dutch).

In 2015 I cycled from the north of the Netherlands to Rome. After Pavia I also cycled parts of the Via Francigena. This summer I cycled to Pavia, following the route through England, France and Switzerland.

I also calculated the share of the unpaved route. Up to the Swiss/Italian border it is 9%, in Italy it is 19%.

Based on this knowledge I can say that my route has some very tricky sections, but that the route through England, France and Switzerland is less difficult than the Italian part.

In my guide (see Downloads and links) I give an impression per stage of the kind of roads you encounter, and the quality of them. The number of kilometres of unpaved road per stage is also indicated (also for the Italian part).
On a number of places I also give an alternative about asphalt (not in Italy).

[iandriver]

I give an impression per stage of the kind of roads you encounter, and the quality of them. The number of kilometres of unpaved road per stage is also indicated (also for the Italian part).
On a number of places I also give an alternative about asphalt (not in Italy).

That is the sort of thing that would be most useful. I found most of the Strada Bianchi to be pretty good, although off road, they were good quality and reasonable smooth. Every day I did hit a section that could only be describe as mountain bike territory, where progress became very difficult and painfully slow. Flagging these sections up would be a huge bonus.

[skelo]

Rode quite a bit of it in Italy between Lake Maggiore and Parma 'by mistake' a couple of years ago. kept seeing little brown signs with a monk, only realised chatting to a group of cyclists in Lucca on their way to Rome!

hoping to use more of it for our planned York-Dubrovnik trip in 2021 (wife permitting!)

[MrsHJ]

I realise that the London to Canterbury bit isn’t in the current EV5 but in my mind the classic route is London, Canterbury to Rome and Brindisi.

So what route would people tag on to get from say Southwark cathedral to Canterbury?

[gaz]

So what route would people tag on to get from say Southwark cathedral to Canterbury?

Depends on your views on mud/gravel. A few starting points to consider.

Cathedrals Cycle Routes, CCR19 to Rochester then CCR20 to Canterbury.

NCN4 or C10 to Greenwich then NCN1 to Canterbury with options to leave NCN1 at Dartford, follow the Darent Valley to Otford and pick up the Pilgrims Way towards Maidstone to meet NCN17 & NCN18; or leave NCN1 at Rochester and follow NCN17 & NCN18 (Pilgrims Cycle Trail).

[MrsHJ]

At least I now know that Rochester has a cathedral!

I’m ok on gravel (and with my recent experience of Italy I’m expecting a lot of gravel at some point on this one although I’d do it in stages), am ok on gravel with a bit of mud, am not keen on muddy footpaths.

Back pocket plans for my second tour this year.