Highlights
- Via Emilia Roman road
- Emilia-Romagna countryside
- Fiorenzuola Collegiata
Stage conditions
| Section | Emilia-Romagna (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Partial |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Piacenza is on the Milan–Bologna line with regional, Intercity and some high-speed trains, plus lines to Cremona and Alessandria. Fiorenzuola d'Arda, at the end, has its own station on the same Milan–Bologna line, with Trenitalia Tper regional trains on the Piacenza–Parma–Bologna run and towards Milan. Because the whole Via Emilia corridor is followed by the railway, you can shorten or extend this and the next stage at will: Pontenure and Cadeo also have stations. Milan is the air and rail hub, about an hour from Piacenza.
What the season does
Best months are April to June and September to October; the stage data drops July and August. The land is flat, the shade only partial, and the day runs 24 km along and beside the Via Emilia. Spring and autumn are mild and clear, with the Apennines showing on the southern horizon; summer is hot and humid on the plain. The source stage page notes the Chiavenna torrent crossing can be difficult in the rainiest periods, which usually means spring and autumn storms.
Safety on this stage
Traffic is the hazard. The route leaves Piacenza along the Via Emilia, and the source stage page warns of the busy stretch between Montale and the bridge over the Nure, where you walk close to fast traffic; keep in, face oncoming vehicles and use the cycle path where one exists. After Pontenure the lanes are quieter. The Chiavenna torrent ford can be impassable after heavy rain, so have a road alternative. Fiorenzuola is a small town with an easy arrival.
Water and food
Water is marked abundant, and the source stage page confirms fountains in every inhabited centre: Montale, Pontenure, Paderna, Cadeo's hamlets and Chero. Pontenure, about a third of the way, has bars and shops and is the natural coffee stop. Shade is partial, so carry a full bottle between villages in warm weather. Piacenza has supermarkets for the start; Fiorenzuola has shops and cafés around the Collegiata.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory has no listing yet at Fiorenzuola d'Arda. The source stage page lists the Parrocchia San Fiorenzo as the town's pilgrim accommodation, and the local paper reports that the parish hostel now has a resident volunteer hospitalero and sees around a thousand pilgrims a year, so it is a functioning welcome rather than a name on a list. Carry your credential and phone ahead. The regional route site lists hotels in Fiorenzuola and agriturismi nearby, and the Ostello Papa Giovanni XXIII back in Piacenza if you leave late.
Sources: Wikipedia — Piacenza railway station · Wikipedia (it) — Stazione di Fiorenzuola · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT17 Piacenza – Fiorenzuola · Libertà — Via Francigena, a Fiorenzuola l'hospitalero della parrocchia · Cammini Emilia-Romagna — Piacenza – Fiorenzuola d'Arda, dove dormire
Common questions
How long is the Piacenza to Fiorenzuola d'Arda stage?
It is 24.0 km (14.9 mi) and takes about 6 hours of walking, from Piacenza to Fiorenzuola d'Arda.
How hard is Piacenza to Fiorenzuola d'Arda?
It is rated easy with 50 m of ascent and 40 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Piacenza to Fiorenzuola d'Arda stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Piacenza and away from Fiorenzuola d'Arda?
Piacenza is on the Milan–Bologna line with regional, Intercity and some high-speed trains, plus lines to Cremona and Alessandria. Fiorenzuola d'Arda, at the end, has its own station on the same Milan–Bologna line, with Trenitalia Tper regional trains on the Piacenza–Parma–Bologna run and towards Milan. Because the whole Via Emilia corridor is followed by the railway, you can shorten or extend this and the next stage at will: Pontenure and Cadeo also have stations.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Fiorenzuola d'Arda?
Our directory has no listing yet at Fiorenzuola d'Arda. The source stage page lists the Parrocchia San Fiorenzo as the town's pilgrim accommodation, and the local paper reports that the parish hostel now has a resident volunteer hospitalero and sees around a thousand pilgrims a year, so it is a functioning welcome rather than a name on a list. Carry your credential and phone ahead.
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.