• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
  • ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Suggestions Please - Starting Point for VF?

Time of past OR future Camino
2017 - Camino Frances
2019 - Camino Portugues
Planning to walk VF in mid-August. I am trying to find a suitable starting point for VF putting a total distance of around 700-800km to Rome. I find that the most common starting points of St. Bernard's Pass (or Lusuanne) too long and Lucca too short. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thank you and Buen Camino.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I think that in your situation I would start in Fidenza. The Po valley rice swamps would be behind you and you would start your journey with the beautiful but fairly demanding climb up to the Cisa pass and down the other side of the Apennines to Pontremoli. From Fidenza onwards the scenery is very varied and so are the historical sights.
 
Planning to walk VF in mid-August. I am trying to find a suitable starting point for VF putting a total distance of around 700-800km to Rome. I find that the most common starting points of St. Bernard's Pass (or Lusuanne) too long and Lucca too short. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thank you and Buen Camino.
I started in Fidenza in June, 2018. This was a good choice for me. I was alone and found a few folks to walk with along the way. The locals were very helpful. My Italian was almost nonexistent, but I tried and they appreciated my efforts. The landscape and food were fabulous. There’s an app - SloWays. It helped me tremendously when I found myself off the path. All the best to you!!
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Fly into Milan (Malpensa), stay a few days then take the 7:00 A.M. train from Milano Centrale to Pavea.
This is about 25 minutes then start your hike there passing the Copuerto (sic) bridge.
Most of the day is a gradual down hill slope.
A good way to start a long trek.
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
Planning to walk VF in mid-August. I am trying to find a suitable starting point for VF putting a total distance of around 700-800km to Rome. I find that the most common starting points of St. Bernard's Pass (or Lusuanne) too long and Lucca too short. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thank you and Buen Camino.
Vercelli. Easily reached via plane (Turin/Milan) and train. If memory serves it is 832km from Rome - ish!
 
Planning to walk VF in mid-August. I am trying to find a suitable starting point for VF putting a total distance of around 700-800km to Rome. I find that the most common starting points of St. Bernard's Pass (or Lusuanne) too long and Lucca too short. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thank you and Buen Camino.
I rode my horse from Canterbury to Rome using the secondary route that avoids Switzerland, and we crossed over the Moncenisio pass straight into Italy. I dropped down to Susa and then joined the main route at Pontremoli via Torriglia. Starting at either of those would be about 800 kms from there to Rome I should think. The Po valley is a nightmare in the summer - I rode across part of it in July97.JPG and it was hideously hot - 46 degrees at times with 100% humidity - and best avoided if you can! Here we are about to cross the Po into miles of brain-fogging sweatiness ... but it was great to welcome the mountains again on the other side.
 
I think that in your situation I would start in Fidenza. The Po valley rice swamps would be behind you and you would start your journey with the beautiful but fairly demanding climb up to the Cisa pass and down the other side of the Apennines to Pontremoli. From Fidenza onwards the scenery is very varied and so are the historical sights.
Thank you. This is very helpful. More decisions to make.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
I started in Fidenza in June, 2018. This was a good choice for me. I was alone and found a few folks to walk with along the way. The locals were very helpful. My Italian was almost nonexistent, but I tried and they appreciated my efforts. The landscape and food were fabulous. There’s an app - SloWays. It helped me tremendously when I found myself off the path. All the best to you!!
Thank you. Another choice to consider and helping me narrow things down.
 
I just walked from Turin to Rome this past Feb/Mar. I would suggest backing up just a bit to Piacenza, which I found to be a charming town. You'd still be past most of the flatlands, but it would get you closer to the 700-800 km.
thank you. I appreciate your thoughts. A few really great options here.
 
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
Fly into Milan (Malpensa), stay a few days then take the 7:00 A.M. train from Milano Centrale to Pavea.
This is about 25 minutes then start your hike there passing the Copuerto (sic) bridge.
Most of the day is a gradual down hill slope.
A good way to start a long trek.
Thank you, a great choice again to consider. Some welcome options Thank you.
 
I rode my horse from Canterbury to Rome using the secondary route that avoids Switzerland, and we crossed over the Moncenisio pass straight into Italy. I dropped down to Susa and then joined the main route at Pontremoli via Torriglia. Starting at either of those would be about 800 kms from there to Rome I should think. The Po valley is a nightmare in the summer - I rode across part of it in JulyView attachment 126608 and it was hideously hot - 46 degrees at times with 100% humidity - and best avoided if you can! Here we are about to cross the Po into miles of brain-fogging sweatiness ... but it was great to welcome the mountains again on the other side.
Awesome, thank you. Walking from Canterbury would be the perfect scenario, but trying to manage so much other travel and wanting to walk another Camino. Ending in Santiago this year just seems more like a parade than a Camino. Thus this route for me.
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Planning to walk VF in mid-August. I am trying to find a suitable starting point for VF putting a total distance of around 700-800km to Rome. I find that the most common starting points of St. Bernard's Pass (or Lusuanne) too long and Lucca too short. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thank you and Buen Camino.
Do you have the VF app? It show you what your looking for. In September I am walking the VF from Siena to Rome. Buen Camino
 
Planning to walk VF in mid-August. I am trying to find a suitable starting point for VF putting a total distance of around 700-800km to Rome. I find that the most common starting points of St. Bernard's Pass (or Lusuanne) too long and Lucca too short. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thank you and Buen Camino.
Michael, San Gimignano to Rome is 900km. If that helps you.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Awesome, thank you. Walking from Canterbury would be the perfect scenario, but trying to manage so much other travel and wanting to walk another Camino. Ending in Santiago this year just seems more like a parade than a Camino. Thus this route for me.
I understand! I rode same horse from Canterbury to Santiago (on Camino Francès) in 2002, and even then it was horribly crowded towards the end and it was difficult to keep a sense of perspective, let alone achievement, although with hindsight it was indeed life changing. It was while riding that Camino that I decided to try the VF next time! Hope you have a great time, wherever you start from.
 
I understand! I rode same horse from Canterbury to Santiago (on Camino Francès) in 2002, and even then it was horribly crowded towards the end and it was difficult to keep a sense of perspective, let alone achievement, although with hindsight it was indeed life changing. It was while riding that Camino that I decided to try the VF next time! Hope you have a great time, wherever you start from.
I walked the Camino Frances in 2002. I had already walked it earlier in 1990. By the time I reached Santiago in 2002 I thought the Frances had become very busy and might be reaching the limits of its capacity. There were about 67,000 Compostelas issued that year. In 2019 there were nearly 350,000. Seems I was a little way out in my judgement back then. :)
 
Only if you take a very indirect route! It took me 12 days from San Gimignano to Rome. Google Maps makes the distance about 270km and that feels about right to me.
Thank you, that’s my sense as well since it is close to Sienna. I am thinking Vicelli near Milan / Turin or a stage further.
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
I walked the Camino Frances in 2002. I had already walked it earlier in 1990. By the time I reached Santiago in 2002 I thought the Frances had become very busy and might be reaching the limits of its capacity. There were about 67,000 Compostelas issued that year. In 2019 there were nearly 350,000. Seems I was a little way out in my judgement back then. :)
Strewth! Well, I won't be riding the Francès again any time soon! I did ride most of the Catalunya camino in 2012 with my son and his horse, and it was quite amazing. Had to stop at Lleida though because we only had about 3 weeks to do it. Maybe one of these days we'll go back to where we left off and carry on for a bit ... this was one of our first views as we approached the extraordinary profile of Monserrat.

1 Catalunya 2012 460.JPG
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Planning to walk VF in mid-August. I am trying to find a suitable starting point for VF putting a total distance of around 700-800km to Rome. I find that the most common starting points of St. Bernard's Pass (or Lusuanne) too long and Lucca too short. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thank you and Buen Camino.
Michael, I apologize for the incorrect information I provided to you. According the the Official VF app not Google maps the starting point to what you are looking for is Vercelli. It's the 10th leg from St Bernard Pass. If you download the official VF App you you'll see what I'm talking about. Buen Camino
 
Hi Michael, I'm Italian and live in Milano. Avoid the Pianura Padana (it's the Po River Valley) in August: too many mosquitos, too hot. Vercelli, Pavia, Piacenza are beautiful but not in Summer. Better you start from Fidenza and rest same days in Tuscany.
 
Last edited:
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.

Most read last week in this forum

The official Via Francigena site has published a list of free walks ** happening in 2024. If you happen to be passing through you might want to take part - or avoid that section that day. (**...

âť“How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top