The Via Francigena in the Valle d'Aosta and
Piemonte
Travelling through Roman monuments, medieval castles and vineyards
6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS
Description
In the Middle Ages, Italy was constantly travelled by pilgrims from all over Europe headed to Rome, visiting the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul. Pilgrims from France entered Italy by crossing the Alps between Piemonte and Aosta Valley, thus giving the road from there to Rome the name of Via Francigena, meaning road of the French.
During this journey, we start from Aosta Valley, following the traces of the ancient Roman road delle Gallie, along which numerous castles were built in the Middle Ages, to arrive in Piemonte, in the Canavese area, passing through vineyards and following mule tracks.
Schedule
Day 1
Meeting in Torino with the Effatà Tour leader at the Porta Susa railway station. Transfer to Aosta (116 km), the gateway to the Alps, an ancient Roman city with the name Augusta Pretoria. Walk in the historic centre where we see some Roman monuments (Porta Pretoria, Arch of Augustus, walls). Check-in at the hotel, dinner in a restaurant selected from the main tourist guides with traditional dishes, and overnight stay.
Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided tour of the historic centre (Cryptoporticus, Amphitheatre, Collegiate Church of Sant'Orso and Cloister, Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta). Light lunch with tasting of typical products. Transfer to Nus (14 km) and walk along the Via Francigena (7km) among vineyards, woods and medieval villages. Check-in at the hotel, dinner in a restaurant selected from the main tourist guides with traditional dishes, and overnight stay.
Day 3
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Fénis (4 km). Tour of the Castle (13th century). Transfer to Bard (33 km), at the foot of the Savoy fortress. Light lunch with tasting of typical products. Walk (12 km) along the Roman Via delle Gallie. At Carema we enter Piemonte and, passing through secondary streets, fields, and vineyards, we arrive at Settimo Vittone. Check-in at the hotel, dinner in a restaurant selected from the main tourist guides with traditional dishes, and overnight stay.
Day 4
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of the parish church of San Lorenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni (9th century). We walk along the Via Francigena (13 km). Light lunch, along the way, with tasting of typical products. Arrival in Ivrea, capital of the kingdom of Italy under King Arduino between 1002 and 1013, and guided tour of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta. Check-in at the hotel, dinner in a restaurant selected from the main tourist guides with traditional dishes, and overnight stay.
Day 5
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Chiesa di San Bernardino (15th century) and the industrial and museum area of Olivetti, a company characterised by technological innovation and its worker-friendly ethos. Light lunch, along the way, with tasting of typical products. Transfer to Piverone (12 km) and walk (10 km) to Viverone, a small village on the shores of the lake. Check-in at the hotel, dinner in a restaurant selected from the main tourist guides with traditional dishes, and overnight stay.
Day 6
Breakfast at the hotel. We remain on the shores of Lago di Viverone to head towards Azeglio and walk to the Sanctuary of Sant'Antonio Abate (5 km, on secondary asphalted roads and flat dirt roads), a building that originated in the 12th century and was used as a hospice for pilgrims on the Via Francigena. In the minivan we go to the Porta Nuova railway station in Torino (60 km). End of services.
Rates / Supplements
Price per person from:
€ 2.080,00 (groups of 6 pax)
€ 2.690,00 (groups of 4 pax)
The price includes:
• Tour leader (speaking Italian, English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Chinese) present during the entire period of the trip
• Transport by minivan (seating 7-9 people) to the locations indicated in the program. The minivan has a combustion engine. For a surcharge, participants may travel “green” with transport in an electric minivan. See the “Any Supplements” section for more information.
• Admission to: Aosta (Cryptoporticus, Roman Amphitheatre, Collegiate Church of Sant'Orso and Cloister, Cathedral of Santa Maria), Fénis (Castello di Fénis), Settimo Vittone (Pieve San Lorenzo), Ivrea (Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Church of San Bernardino, Olivetti Historical Archive ), Viverone (Sanctuary of Sant'Antonio Abate)
• Visit to Aosta and Ivrea with local tourist guide
• Accommodation in "boutique" hotels or accommodation facilities (agritourism, bed & breakfast, ...) selected from the main tourist guides (Michelin, Routard, Lonely Planet, Italian Touring Club, ...) and verified by Effatà Tour, in a central location, in twin bedded en suite rooms
• Full board from dinner on the 1st day to lunch on the last day. “Light” lunch at restaurants, agritourisms, farms, with local products. Dinners in restaurants selected from the main tourist guides (Michelin, Routard, Lonely Planet, Italian Touring Club, ...) and verified by Effatà Tour, with seasonal menus promoting local products
• Local taxes and VAT
Hiking tours
The stages on foot are optional (minivans are available), without particular difficulties, require no specific experience but participants must be in good physical shape. They take place on secondary asphalted roads, dirt roads, easily passable trails.
Meditations and insights
Along the way there will be rest stops enriched by meditations, organised by Effatà Tour, taken from the stories of pilgrims’ journeys, studies by historians and medieval documents. The “Via Francigena” becomes an opportunity to practice a path of spirituality and experience the hike as an interior journey.
During the transfers, the Effatà Tour guide introduces and comments on songs read aloud, music, audiovisual projections, which help the participants to appreciate artistic, historical, spiritual and cultural aspects of the “Via Francigena” in Valle d'Aosta and in the Canavese area.
The price does not include:
• Mandatory individual fee for paperwork management: €60. Includes individual cost of handling the paperwork and Axa insurance policy for medical expenses. Please contact Effatà Tour to consult the terms and conditions of insurance
• Travel cancellation insurance (optional). It is possible to take out a “Cancellation” insurance which allows you to cancel the trip. Please contact Effatà Tour to request a personalized cancellation insurance quote.
• Tips to drivers, local guides, restaurant / hotel service staff
• Drinks during meals, personal expenses in general
• Supplement for specific dietary needs: to be defined according to the participant's requests
• Admission fees and excursions not indicated in the program
• Procedures and fees for the entry visa (for participants from non-EU countries)
• Anything not specifically indicated under “The price includes”
Supplements:
Single room surcharge: €375 per participant
Green travel with eco-sustainable mobility
It is possible to use a reserved minivan with an electric motor during all scheduled transfers (for an extra charge. For 6 participants: €190 per participant. For 4 participants: €290 per participant)
Other
Holiday formula:
Families, Groups, Individuals
Guided tour:
Yes
Equipment required:
Comfortable clothes
Lightweight backpack
Sneakers
Sun cream
Sun hat
Sunglasses
Trekking boots
Water bottle
Windproof jacket
