- What is the Via Francigena
- The Tuscan route: from Pontremoli to Radicofani
- The most beautiful stages in Tuscany
- How to prepare: equipment and accommodation
- How to Get There from Hotel La Magione
- Conclusion
There is a path that crosses Tuscany from north to south, following the roads that medieval pilgrims walked to reach Rome. The Via Francigena is an experience of freedom, slowness and continuous wonder: each day a different landscape, each village a story to discover, every step a deeper connection with this extraordinary land. Those who walk it, even just a few stages, come home changed.
Poggibonsi lies directly on the Via Francigena, making Hotel La Magione an ideal and strategic stopping point for pilgrims crossing Tuscany.
What is the Via Francigena
The Via Francigena is a historic pilgrimage route linking Canterbury to Rome, about 1,800 km in total. It was first documented by Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury in 990 AD, who recorded the 80 stages of his return journey from Rome. In the Middle Ages it was one of the three great Christian pilgrimage routes, alongside the Camino de Santiago and the Via Romea.
In Italy, the route enters from the Aosta Valley or Liguria, crosses the Po Plain, the Apennines and then Tuscany, continuing to Lazio and Rome. The Tuscan section is considered the most picturesque and rich of the entire Italian route.
The Tuscan route: from Pontremoli to Radicofani
The Via Francigena in Tuscany enters from the Lunigiana (Pontremoli) and passes through Garfagnana, the Lucca area, the Valdelsa (with Lucca, San Miniato, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, Poggibonsi, Siena) and then the Val d'Orcia to Radicofani on the border with Lazio.
The most significant stages include: Lucca (with its intact walls), San Gimignano (with medieval towers), Monteriggioni (with its circular castle), Siena (the heart of the walk), Buonconvento, San Quirico d'Orcia, Bagno Vignoni and Radicofani. Each stage is a masterpiece of history and landscape.
The most beautiful stages in Tuscany
The Gambassi Terme-San Gimignano stage (about 13 km) is one of the most scenic on the Italian Via Francigena: you walk through vineyards and olive groves, with the towers of San Gimignano appearing on the horizon like a medieval vision.
The San Gimignano-Poggibonsi stage (about 14 km) crosses the Val d'Elsa hills with panoramic and solitary views over the Tuscan countryside. Arriving in Poggibonsi, with the sight of the Basilica of San Lucchese, is one of the most moving moments of the walk.
The Siena-Buonconvento stage (about 36 km, splittable into two) crosses the Crete Senesi, the lunar and extraordinary landscape south of Siena that bursts with green in spring and burns ochre in summer.
How to prepare: equipment and accommodation
To walk the Via Francigena in Tuscany you need well-worn hiking boots, a light sleeping bag (for hostels), the Pilgrim's Credential (the document certifying the walk) and a GPS app such as Via Francigena App. The average elevation gain is moderate: suitable even for those not trained for strenuous walks.
Accommodation along the route ranges from pilgrims' hostels (affordable and welcoming) to farm stays and small hotels. In spring and autumn it is advisable to book ahead.
How to Get There from Hotel La Magione
Hotel La Magione in Poggibonsi sits directly on the Via Francigena. Pilgrims on the walk find here a comfortable base to rest, recharge with the included breakfast and set off again the following day. The hotel offers parking for those who arrive by car and want to walk only a few stages. The location is strategic and convenient for exploring the walk without necessarily completing the whole route.Conclusion
The Via Francigena Tuscany is a transformative experience. It is not just a walk: it is a way of looking at landscape, history and yourself with different eyes. Even a single stage, even just a few hours of walking among the Sienese hills, is enough to understand why millions of pilgrims, from the Middle Ages to today, have chosen this road.
Ready to experience Tuscany?Hotel La Magione is your perfect base.
Book your stayand let yourself be captivated by Tuscan magic.