Via Francigena

The Route, dirt and paved roads following in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims, was first documented in 990 by Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, in his diary describing the places he passed through as he returned to Canterbury. The roads that Sigeric followed became known as the Via Francigena (the road from France) or “Via Romea” (the road to Rome) and for centuries was used by merchants, clergyman, soldiers, and pilgrims traveling back and forth from the north of Europe to Rome and Jerusalem, carrying ideas as well as money and produce. These people traveled on foot or on mules and horses, and rarely by cart because the conditions of the road varied continually.

The road was built and maintained by the local nobles. Because it was not constructed with the idea of connecting places of great importance and distance like the Roman roads, it was a series of local paths and trails of various widths and various materials, which linked mountain passes, bridges, ferry boats and villages.