Highlights
- Piedmontese plain
- Agricultural landscapes
- Santhia historic centre
Stage conditions
| Section | Po Valley (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Minimal |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Ivrea station has Trenitalia regional trains to Chivasso and Turin and a Novara service, plus the replacement bus from Aosta. Santhià, at the end, is a junction on the Turin–Milan line with regional trains to Turin, Chivasso, Vercelli, Novara and Milan and a branch to Biella (the Arona branch is now a bus). If you want to split the 30 km, the source stage pages note that Santhià station is linked to Cavaglià by bus 67 and on to Viverone by bus 390, both run by ATAP, so a night by Lake Viverone is practical.
What the season does
Best months are April to June and September to October: the stage data drops July and August, and warns that the stage is very flat and exposed with little shade and that you should carry sun protection and extra water in summer. This is the first day of the great plain. Spring is green and cool, with the moraine hills and lake at their best; autumn is mild and clear. If you must walk it in high summer, start at first light and finish before the afternoon.
Safety on this stage
The hazards are heat, distance and roads. Thirty kilometres with 319 m of ascent over the moraine hills is a long, exposed day; sunburn and dehydration are the real risks. The source stage pages warn that beyond Viverone the route crosses cultivated farmland where the volunteer waymarks are often knocked out by tractors, so carry the GPX or a map as backup. Where the route uses lanes, farm traffic is fast. Nothing is technical; pace and water are everything.
Water and food
Water is marked abundant, and the source stage pages confirm fountains in every village: Bollengo, Palazzo Canavese, Piverone, Viverone, Roppolo and Cavaglià all have them, and the first three have bars. Even so, the stretches between villages are open and shadeless, so leave each with a full bottle and carry two litres in warm weather. Ivrea has supermarkets for the start; Santhià has shops and cafés around Piazza Roma.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory has no listing yet at Santhià, but the town has one of the best-known pilgrim hostels on the route. The Ostello Amici della Via Francigena, run by volunteers of the Santhià association on behalf of the commune, has 20 beds in three apartments at Corso Nuova Italia 134 (also entered from Via Madonnetta 2) near Piazza Roma; keys are collected from the Caffè della Piazza, the Immobilcasa agency or the municipal police, all on the square, and there is free Wi-Fi and a pilgrim menu in nearby restaurants. Credential required; book by phone.
Sources: Wikipedia — Ivrea railway station · Wikipedia — Santhià railway station · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT07 Ivrea – Viverone · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT08 Viverone – Santhià · Comune di Santhià — L'Ostello di Santhià
Common questions
How long is the Ivrea to Santhia stage?
It is 30.0 km (18.6 mi) and takes about 7.5 hours of walking, from Ivrea to Santhia.
How hard is Ivrea to Santhia?
It is rated easy with 50 m of ascent and 80 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Ivrea to Santhia stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Ivrea and away from Santhia?
Ivrea station has Trenitalia regional trains to Chivasso and Turin and a Novara service, plus the replacement bus from Aosta. Santhià, at the end, is a junction on the Turin–Milan line with regional trains to Turin, Chivasso, Vercelli, Novara and Milan and a branch to Biella (the Arona branch is now a bus). If you want to split the 30 km, the source stage pages note that Santhià station is linked to Cavaglià by bus 67 and on to Viverone by bus 390, both run by ATAP, so a night by Lake Viverone is practical.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Santhia?
Our directory has no listing yet at Santhià, but the town has one of the best-known pilgrim hostels on the route. The Ostello Amici della Via Francigena, run by volunteers of the Santhià association on behalf of the commune, has 20 beds in three apartments at Corso Nuova Italia 134 (also entered from Via Madonnetta 2) near Piazza Roma; keys are collected from the Caffè della Piazza, the Immobilcasa agency or the municipal police, all on the square, and there is free Wi-Fi and a pilgrim menu in nearby restaurants. Credential required; book by phone.
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.