Highlights
- Certosa di Pavia
- Pavia covered bridge
- Pavia University
- San Michele Maggiore basilica
Stage conditions
| Section | Po Valley (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Minimal |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Mortara is a rail junction with Trenord trains to Milan, Pavia and Vercelli and Trenitalia to Novara, Alessandria and Casale. The Vercelli–Pavia line shadows the stage, so Garlasco has a station if you split the 32 km, as the stage data suggests. Pavia, at the end, is on the Milan–Genoa main line with regional and Intercity trains, and lines to Alessandria, Vercelli, Mantua and Stradella; Milan is about half an hour. Milan Linate is roughly 20 km from the city and Malpensa is reached via Milan.
What the season does
Best months are April to June and September to October; the stage data drops July and August and warns the stage is flat and exposed. At 32 km it is the longest day in the Po Valley, so the season matters more than usual: in spring and autumn it is a long, pleasant day through poplar groves and paddies; in summer it is a heat problem, and the source stage pages advise a hat and plenty of water. Pavia is worth arriving in with energy to spare, so consider Garlasco as a halfway night.
Safety on this stage
The stage data's advice is to consider splitting the stage. The source stage pages flag dangerous road crossings at about km 8.2 and km 13.8 entering Tromello, and note that waymarks between Mortara and Tromello are often removed, so carry the GPX. The rest is farm lanes and canal paths with agricultural traffic. Thirty-two shadeless kilometres in heat is the real risk; the last stretch into Pavia along the Ticino is shaded and pleasant, but by then you will have done 25 km.
Water and food
Water is marked abundant, but the source stage pages are more cautious: fountains only in the villages on the first half (Remondò, Tromello, Garlasco) and only at Villanova d'Ardenghi on the second. Gropello Cairoli has bars. Leave Mortara with two litres, refill at Tromello and Garlasco, and again at Villanova before the final 10 km. Pavia has shops, cafés and fountains once you are across the covered bridge.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory lists the Ostello Santa Maria in Bethlem, a convent-run hostel. It is in the parish house of the church of Santa Maria in Betlem in the Borgo Ticino district, 600 m from the historic centre, with six rooms sleeping 23, a common room with Wi-Fi, microwave and kettle, and a garden; check-in is 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 18:30, pilgrims with a credential are welcome, and sleeping bags are not allowed. Bus lines 1, 21 and 22 link it to the station. Pavia also has hotels and B&Bs at every level.
Sources: Wikipedia (it) — Stazione di Mortara · Wikipedia — Pavia railway station · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT12 Mortara – Garlasco · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT13 Garlasco – Pavia · Ospitalità Religiosa — Ostello Santa Maria in Betlem, Pavia
Common questions
How long is the Mortara to Pavia stage?
It is 32.0 km (19.9 mi) and takes about 8 hours of walking, from Mortara to Pavia.
How hard is Mortara to Pavia?
It is rated easy with 30 m of ascent and 30 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Mortara to Pavia stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Mortara and away from Pavia?
Mortara is a rail junction with Trenord trains to Milan, Pavia and Vercelli and Trenitalia to Novara, Alessandria and Casale. The Vercelli–Pavia line shadows the stage, so Garlasco has a station if you split the 32 km, as the stage data suggests. Pavia, at the end, is on the Milan–Genoa main line with regional and Intercity trains, and lines to Alessandria, Vercelli, Mantua and Stradella; Milan is about half an hour.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Pavia?
Our directory lists the Ostello Santa Maria in Bethlem, a convent-run hostel. It is in the parish house of the church of Santa Maria in Betlem in the Borgo Ticino district, 600 m from the historic centre, with six rooms sleeping 23, a common room with Wi-Fi, microwave and kettle, and a garden; check-in is 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 18:30, pilgrims with a credential are welcome, and sleeping bags are not allowed. Bus lines 1, 21 and 22 link it to the station.
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.