During Early Middle Ages, around the 7th century, the Lombards competed with Byzantines for the Italian territory. The strategic necessity to connect the Reign of Pavia and the southern dukedoms with a sufficiently safe road, led to the selection of an itinerary before that considered minor, that crossed the Apennines near the present Cisa Pass and that, after Valle del Magra, moved away from the coast towards Lucca.
SIGERIC'S ITINERARY
In the year 990, archbishop Sigeric travelled between Rome and Canterbury, describing the 79 stages of his itinerary in his journal.
Read moreTHE FRANCIGENA WAYS IN THE SOUTH
The pilgrims had only one destination: the "pasagiumultramarinum", the land and sea route that led to the Holy Land.
Read moreHISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
In this section it is possible to find the main texts that retrace the history of the Via Francigena.
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