Guida alla Via Francigena by Monica D’Atti and Franco Cinti, Terre di Mezzo Editore (2006) – For those looking to walk any part of the Via Francigena in Italy this is the one indispensable text that in a single package gives you information on how to find the trails, how far each stage is and where to sleep. The authors even throw in a little history. I have spoken with Monica and I can vouch for her dedication to my same goal: helping the Via Francigena return to its former glory (by finding routes that take walkers off the cement and onto dirt trails) so that it can be enjoyed by future generations. (Unfortunately this book is only in Italian.)
Walkers’, Cyclists’ and Horse Riders’ LightFoot Guide to the Via Francigena by Paul Chinn and Babette Gallard, EURL Pilgrimage Publications. There are two volumes, one covering Canterbury to the summit of the Great St. Bernard Pass and the other from the pass to Rome. These are exhaustive step by step guides telling you were to turn left and right on every inch of the Via Francigena. I got these books after I had already finished my walk so I did not use them while doing the pilgrimage thing, but they are extraordinarily detailed and that promises well for the pilgrim. The book is printed on demand and can be ordered here. The authors (a husband-wife team) are continually updating as changes are made to the route and they also include lots of information about accommodations for the walker and if need be your horse. You also get some historical context and a printed version of the blogs they wrote during their pilgrimage.
La Via Francigena, Una Strada Europea nell’Italia del Medioevo by Renato Stopani, Le Lettere (1988) (only in Italian)
Le Vie di Pellegrinaggio del Medioevo. Gli itinerari per Roma, Gerusalemme, Compostella by Renato Stopani, Le Lettere (1991). (only in Italian)
There are many websites dedicated to the Italian portion of the Via Francigena, here are a few worth perusing:
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