This was in fact the road that stretched from the English city to Rome: thereafter the religious journey proceeded to Jerusalem in the Holy Land.  The pilgrims travelled in groups on foot as penitence and had to walk approximately 25 kilometres a day.

The eleventh century Crusaders also followed this guide to win back Christ’s Holy Sepulchre.  The road was, in addition, a popular channel for both cultural and commercial exchanges and over the years facilitated the configuration of Europe as we know it today.

The Tuscan section, which is 394 km long, starts at Passo della Cisa – at the village of Berceto to be precise – and enters Lazio at the Ponte a Rigo, traversing areas of stunning beauty and important cities.

Some of the latter actually grew and flourished thanks to the Via Francigena just as oratories, churches and hospitals for wayfarers were built along this artery for the religious and ‘logistic’ support of pilgrims.

For this reason the Via Francigena, rediscovered and completely mapped as part of a large-scale  promotion for tourism and trekking, offers many opportunities for exploration and travel.

A European site dedicated to the road contains information and descriptions of the various sections: www.viafrancigena.eu

In the Florence area are the towns of Fucecchio, Castelfiorentino, Gambassi Terme and Certaldo.

Fucecchio – because of its geographical position, the town played an important role in mediaeval mobility.  Access to the Via Francigena was by way of the Ponte a Cappiano, rebuilt thanks to Saint Allucio who dedicated his life to helping the poor.

Near the bridge a hospice was later built and there followed a portico and a church, Santa Maria al porto d’Arno. There was another bridge near  Ripoli, in the area of Cerreto Guidi, in the vicinity of the pieve (parish church) of San Leonardo.

The city of Fucecchio is described on other pages  on this site.

Castelfiorentino – Bordering the territories of Florence, Siena and Volterra, this area was never very peaceful:  nevertheless, it was continually traversed by pilgrims. The Via Francigena in fact followed the Elsa river, over which there was a bridge: in 1149 Castelfiorentino became the Florence bridgehead on the Francigena to the detriment of Siena.

Numerous churches and oratories were built in the town.  Read more on Castelfiorentino.

Gambassi Terme – There are records of three pievi in this area in the mediaeval period: San Lorenzo and San Giovanni Battista at Treschi, the Pieve of Chianni, and San Giovanni and San Frediano at Pisignano (Montignoso).

Approximately twenty suffragan churches date from the same period and are linked to these parish churches.

Confirming the importance of the road in the area is the fact that many of the saints after whom the churches are named, (particularly the many Saints Jacopo and Martino) are associated with road travel.
Also significant is the presence of two hospitals, at Catignano and Gambassi. In the mediaeval period there were also three monasteries: San Pietro at Cerreto, San Vittore and San Mariano.

Read about Gambassi Terme and the Pieve di Santa Maria at Chianni.

Certaldo – With its castle overlooking the valley, Certaldo Alto still maintains its mediaeval layout contained within its walls.

Entry is through the gates:  Porta Alberti,  Porta al Sole and Porta al Rivellino. This is Boccaccio’s birthplace but all that remains of his house is its primitive mediaeval structure.  However, the town is also interesting because of the Palazzo Pretorio, which was probably the home of the Alberti counts and the tabernacle called ' Dei Giustiziati' (The Executed) which had a rich series of frescoes attributed to Benozzo Gozzoli in  1446. This was the place where those condemned to death could receive their final spiritual comfort. The frescoes are now to be found in the church of Saints Iacopo and Filippo, which also houses Boccaccio’s tomb.

See other information regarding the town of Certaldo.

For further tourist information on the above towns, here.