Walking in reverse

[jkk]

A friend and I are planning on walking the Via Francigena, starting on May 20. We would really like to walk over the Grand St. Bernard Pass, but realize that we would probably be a couple of weeks too early. So my question is, could we start in Pontremoli and walk towards Switzetlsnd instead of going toward Rome? How hard is it to go the opposite direction?

 

[Harington]

A friend and I are planning on walking the Via Francigena, starting on May 20. We would really like to walk over the Grand St. Bernard Pass, but realize that we would probably be a couple of weeks too early. So my question is, could we start in Pontremoli and walk towards Switzetlsnd instead of going toward Rome? How hard is it to go the opposite direction?

People who cannot cross the Pass because it is still closed can take the bus through to Etroubles or Aosta. When they get to Rome they often take a train back to Aosta, and then take the bus to the Swiss side of the Pass to cross it, thus ensuring they have walked all the way. Forum member Timr has written a guide to crossing the GSB

 

[timr]

People who cannot cross the Pass because it is still closed can take the bus through to Etroubles or Aosta. When they get to Rome they often take a train back to Aosta, and then take the bus to the Swiss side of the Pass to cross it, thus ensuring they have walked all the way. Forum member Timr has written a guide to crossing the GSB

Indeed! That is what I did....See here

 

[Carel5]

Of course you can flipflop and walk the other way, although the VF signposting is mostly towards Rome. In 2018 I met two Italians who walked to Santiago from Rome and sometimes found it difficult to find the route Northwards. Best thing probably is to load the GPX data from the official Via Francigena site and reverse the direction of every stage.