Walking the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route - Part 2 : Lausanne and the Great St Bernard Pass to Lucca

Walk shaded lakeside paths by Lac Léman, cross the historic Great Saint Bernard Pass, traverse the Po Valley's cultural heart, and finish among the scenic hills and coastline of Liguria and Tuscany, where medieval villages and vineyards meet stunning sea views. Designed for modern-day pilgrims and those seeking a reflective walking experience, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook breaks the route into 32 manageable daily stages from north to south. Each stage features detailed 1:100,000 route maps, with enhanced 1:25,000 city maps for key urban centres including Lausanne, Martigny, Aosta, Pavia, Fidenza, and Lucca. Step-by-step directions guide you across diverse landscapes, supported by downloadable GPX files for GPS devices and smartphone apps. For every stage, you'll find precise distances, total ascent and descent, estimated walking times, terrain summaries, and listed accommodation and refreshment options in towns and villages along the way. A handy trek planner and route summary table let you customise your itinerary, whether you want to linger in the Roman spa town of Aosta, explore the historic abbeys of Pavia, or savour the world-famous cuisine of Parma. With detailed mapping and practical advice, this guide ensures a safe, enjoyable, and culturally rich Via Francigena walking experience as you tackle alpine passes, follow riverside paths, and explore the cobbled streets and lively piazzas of Italy's northern cities and Tuscany.