FRANCIGENA WAY
A centuries-old path through faith, history and landscapes
The Via Francigena is one of Europe’s oldest and most symbolic pilgrimage routes. For centuries, it was walked by pilgrims, merchants, soldiers, popes, and travelers on their journey from Canterbury to Rome, and onward to the Holy Land. Its name comes from the "Franks", people from beyond the Alps heading to the sacred places of Christianity.
Today, the Via Francigena is recognized as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. It welcomes modern-day pilgrims, hikers, cyclists, and spiritual travelers. But above all, it remains a personal journey, one that unfolds step by step — through silence, encounters, and beauty.
At the heart of this thousand-year-old path lies Proceno, the first village in Lazio for those entering from Tuscany, just as it was in the past when travelers crossed into the Papal States. A place of passage and pause, where walkers have long found rest, hospitality, and reflection. Today, it continues to offer these experiences, thanks to a renewed interest in slow, sustainable, and cultural travel.
The Via Francigena was not just a road, it was a network of places and meanings: villages, churches, springs, hostels, river crossings, and castles. In medieval times, the journey was long and dangerous. Pilgrims often left after making a will, moved by faith, a vow, or the hope for spiritual renewal.
Proceno was a threshold, a gateway between two worlds. It still holds this spirit, offering signs of the past and inspiration for the present: ancient stone paths, views over the countryside, sacred art, nature, and stories.
Today, the revival of the Via Francigena brings new attention to lesser-known villages like Proceno. These places are once again seen as centers of identity, spirituality, and culture, where travelers find not just a route, but a meaningful experience, full of landscapes, encounters, and the power of slowness.
The Via Francigena is, once again, a path of discovery and a chance for villages like Proceno to be known, explored, and appreciated through the culture of walking.
Walking routes along the Via Francigena
Proceno VediVia Francigena – Mountain route
Along the historic Via Cassia, following the path of pilgrims between Tuscany and Lazio
