Highlights
- Sutri Etruscan amphitheatre (carved from rock)
- Madonna del Parto (Mithraic cave temple)
- Sutri Cathedral
- Three millennia of history
Stage conditions
| Section | Lazio (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Full |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Sutri has no station of its own. Capranica–Sutri station at Capranica Scalo, on the FL3 Rome–Viterbo line, serves both towns, and the association's notes for the Sutri stages recommend it together with a Cotral bus for the last few kilometres. Cotral's Viterbo–Roma Saxa Rubra buses stop in Sutri on the Cassia, with Saxa Rubra on the Cotral/Astral Rome–Viterbo railway to Piazzale Flaminio. Rome Fiumicino is the airport hub; FL3 trains reach Roma Ostiense and Tiburtina, where the FL1 airport line connects.
What the season does
The shortest stage on the whole route, with March to June and September to November as best months and full shade. The one seasonal hazard is rain: the association's notes for the Vetralla–Sutri leg say the Valle Mazzano section in the final kilometres becomes dangerous in heavy rain and tell you to check the weather first. In dry weather it is a delightful couple of hours through tuff gorges to the amphitheatre. Sutri's religious houses fill with groups at Easter and in the summer retreat season, so book.
Safety on this stage
Take the association's warning seriously: the Valle Mazzano stretch between roughly km 18.6 and 23 of the Vetralla–Sutri leg — the approach to Sutri — is dangerous in heavy rain, when the sunken lanes flood and the tuff turns to grease. In a storm, use the road. Otherwise there is a Cassia crossing near Capranica to make with care, and the descent into Sutri's amphitheatre park is on steps and cobbles.
Water and food
Abundant. The association's notes say fountains are present in inhabited centres — fill up in Capranica, and there is nothing in the gorge until Sutri, which has fountains in the old town and bars on Piazza del Comune. The stage is short enough that a litre is plenty even in summer.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory has no entry for Sutri yet. Sutri's pilgrim welcomes are religious houses. The association's notes list the Monastero Carmelitane, the Carmelite nuns on Via Garibaldi, and its accommodation list names the Rifugio del Pellegrino. The Casa di accoglienza Oasi di Pace on Via delle Viole, a religious house on the hillside above the town, explicitly welcomes Via Francigena pilgrims with fifty beds, a chapel and garden, but asks for a deposit and keeps fixed reception hours. All want a call the day before. Hotels and B&Bs are in the town.
Sources: Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT41 Vetralla–Sutri · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT42 Sutri–Campagnano · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — L'accoglienza pellegrina · Ospitalità Religiosa — Casa di accoglienza Oasi di Pace, Sutri · Wikipedia (it) — Stazione di Capranica-Sutri · Wikipedia — FL3 (Lazio regional railways) · Wikipedia — Rome–Civita Castellana–Viterbo railway · Orari Autobus — Cotral routes from Viterbo
Common questions
How long is the Capranica to Sutri stage?
It is 12.0 km (7.5 mi) and takes about 3 hours of walking, from Capranica to Sutri.
How hard is Capranica to Sutri?
It is rated easy with 100 m of ascent and 130 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Capranica to Sutri stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Capranica and away from Sutri?
Sutri has no station of its own. Capranica–Sutri station at Capranica Scalo, on the FL3 Rome–Viterbo line, serves both towns, and the association's notes for the Sutri stages recommend it together with a Cotral bus for the last few kilometres. Cotral's Viterbo–Roma Saxa Rubra buses stop in Sutri on the Cassia, with Saxa Rubra on the Cotral/Astral Rome–Viterbo railway to Piazzale Flaminio.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Sutri?
Our directory has no entry for Sutri yet. Sutri's pilgrim welcomes are religious houses. The association's notes list the Monastero Carmelitane, the Carmelite nuns on Via Garibaldi, and its accommodation list names the Rifugio del Pellegrino.
Walk this stage
Open the full stage list to plan the legs either side, browse heritage along the route, or get the free Via Francigena Walk app for offline maps and GPS on the trail.