Highlights
- Lake Bolsena panorama
- Est! Est!! Est!!! wine legend
- Rocca dei Papi (Papal Fortress)
- Church of San Flaviano
Stage conditions
| Section | Lazio (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Partial |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Bolsena is a Cotral bus town: the Viterbo–Acquapendente line and the interregional Viterbo–Siena and Pitigliano–Viterbo lines all stop at Piazza Marconi, and the association notes Cotral links to Orvieto and Viterbo stations. Montefiascone is on the same Cotral lines (Via Salotti/Via Moro stop), and the association mentions Zepponami station on the Viterbo–Attigliano line, 3 km from the town, as a rail option. Viterbo, the next town, has FL3 trains from Rome. Rome Fiumicino is the airport hub.
What the season does
The stage data give March to June and September to November with partial shade. The climb from the lakeshore to the hilltop is steady rather than steep, and the stage data's only warning is that it is uphill all the way — hot work in July and August, when the exposed upper slopes face the sun. Views back over the lake improve with every metre and are clearest in autumn. Montefiascone marks the last 100 km to Rome, so from spring onwards its pilgrim beds are busy with walkers starting here for the Testimonium; the Benedictine monastery closes to individuals in December and January.
Safety on this stage
The association's notes flag two crossings of the SS2 Cassia, at roughly 10 and 12 km into the stage, and call them critical — the road is fast and lorries use it, so cross where you can see both ways and do not follow the verge. The rest of the day is on lanes and tracks through olive groves and vineyards with no particular hazard beyond the climb. Signage is good.
Water and food
Abundant in the stage data, and the association's notes say fountains are present in inhabited centres — but there is no village between Bolsena and Montefiascone, so fill up before you leave the lake. Bars appear only on the approach to Montefiascone, which has fountains in the old town and cafés around the cathedral and the Rocca. A litre for the climb, more in summer.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory's Bolsena entry, the Ostello Santa Cristina (pilgrim hostel), is where you start; it has no entry for Montefiascone yet. Montefiascone has a strong pilgrim network. The Monastero San Pietro, Benedictine nuns on Via Garibaldi, offers thirty beds in dormitories, kitchen use, meals on request, open February to November. The Accoglienza Raggio di Sole on Via San Francesco has thirty bunk beds, kitchen and laundry, open year round on a donation basis. The association also lists the Istituto del Divino Amore and, a few kilometres on, the Domus Peregrini. Book the day before.
Sources: Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT38 Bolsena–Montefiascone · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT39 Montefiascone–Viterbo · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — Monastero di San Pietro, Montefiascone · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — Accoglienza Raggio di Sole, Montefiascone · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — L'accoglienza pellegrina · Cotral — Linee interregionali · Orari Autobus — Cotral routes from Viterbo · Wikipedia — Rome Fiumicino Airport
Common questions
How long is the Bolsena to Montefiascone stage?
It is 17.0 km (10.6 mi) and takes about 4.5 hours of walking, from Bolsena to Montefiascone.
How hard is Bolsena to Montefiascone?
It is rated easy with 350 m of ascent and 100 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Bolsena to Montefiascone stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Bolsena and away from Montefiascone?
Bolsena is a Cotral bus town: the Viterbo–Acquapendente line and the interregional Viterbo–Siena and Pitigliano–Viterbo lines all stop at Piazza Marconi, and the association notes Cotral links to Orvieto and Viterbo stations. Montefiascone is on the same Cotral lines (Via Salotti/Via Moro stop), and the association mentions Zepponami station on the Viterbo–Attigliano line, 3 km from the town, as a rail option. Viterbo, the next town, has FL3 trains from Rome.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Montefiascone?
Our directory's Bolsena entry, the Ostello Santa Cristina (pilgrim hostel), is where you start; it has no entry for Montefiascone yet. Montefiascone has a strong pilgrim network. The Monastero San Pietro, Benedictine nuns on Via Garibaldi, offers thirty beds in dormitories, kitchen use, meals on request, open February to November.
Walk this stage
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