Highlights
- Ivrea Castle
- Ivrea Cathedral
- Canavese morainic hills
- Transition from Alps to plain
Stage conditions
| Section | Aosta Valley (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Full |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Pont-Saint-Martin station is on the Chivasso–Ivrea–Aosta line; the section to Ivrea is closed for electrification, with buses in place, and is the first part due to reopen, on 11 January 2027. Ivrea, at the end, has a working station 32 km from Chivasso with Trenitalia regional trains to Chivasso and Turin, a Novara–Chivasso–Ivrea service, and the Aosta connection by replacement bus. From Ivrea you can be in Turin in about an hour, and Turin is the airport hub for this end of the valley. Arriva coaches from the valley to Milan and Malpensa also pass this way.
What the season does
Best months are April to October. The stage leaves the Alps for the morainic hills of the Canavese, marked full shade and abundant water, and ends at 244 m, so it is mild in spring and autumn and warm rather than hot in summer. The vineyards on the Carema terraces are at their best in October. This is the transition from mountain to plain: from tomorrow the concerns are heat and shade, not snow.
Safety on this stage
Graded easy, though the source stage page rates it quite demanding for its repeated ups and downs (315 m up, 415 m down). The one real hazard it flags is at about km 3.5 near Carema, where the route joins the SS26: there is room to walk but traffic is fast, so face the traffic and keep in. Leaving Montalto Dora, the page warns that a wrong sign at Via Casana sends you onto the Lake Pistono variant; keep right on Via Cappella to avoid a two-kilometre detour.
Water and food
Water is marked abundant, and the source stage page confirms fountains in every village: Carema, Settimo Vittone, Borgofranco d'Ivrea and Montalto Dora all have them and most have a bar. Pont-Saint-Martin has shops for the start and Ivrea has everything. Carry one bottle and refill in each village. Ivrea is the place to stock up for the long, shadeless plain stage to Santhià tomorrow.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory lists the Ostello del Pellegrino Ivrea, a pilgrim hostel. On the ground this is the Ostello Ivrea Canoa Club at Via Dora Baltea 1/d, in the canoe club's complex on the right bank of the Dora Baltea with the river under its windows: anyone can stay, no membership needed, with bedrooms upstairs, two shared bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, a common room and paid linen and laundry; book by email or phone. A footbridge takes you into the old town. Ivrea also has hotels and B&Bs.
Sources: Regione Valle d'Aosta — Linea Aosta-Ivrea, lavori in fase conclusiva (2026) · Wikipedia — Ivrea railway station · Arriva Italia — Courmayeur – Aosta – Milano · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT06 Pont-Saint-Martin – Ivrea · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT07 Ivrea – Viverone · Ostello Ivrea Canoa Club
Common questions
How long is the Pont-Saint-Martin to Ivrea stage?
It is 22.0 km (13.7 mi) and takes about 5.5 hours of walking, from Pont-Saint-Martin to Ivrea.
How hard is Pont-Saint-Martin to Ivrea?
It is rated easy with 150 m of ascent and 280 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Pont-Saint-Martin to Ivrea stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Pont-Saint-Martin and away from Ivrea?
Pont-Saint-Martin station is on the Chivasso–Ivrea–Aosta line; the section to Ivrea is closed for electrification, with buses in place, and is the first part due to reopen, on 11 January 2027. Ivrea, at the end, has a working station 32 km from Chivasso with Trenitalia regional trains to Chivasso and Turin, a Novara–Chivasso–Ivrea service, and the Aosta connection by replacement bus. From Ivrea you can be in Turin in about an hour, and Turin is the airport hub for this end of the valley.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Ivrea?
Our directory lists the Ostello del Pellegrino Ivrea, a pilgrim hostel. On the ground this is the Ostello Ivrea Canoa Club at Via Dora Baltea 1/d, in the canoe club's complex on the right bank of the Dora Baltea with the river under its windows: anyone can stay, no membership needed, with bedrooms upstairs, two shared bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, a common room and paid linen and laundry; book by email or phone. A footbridge takes you into the old town.
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.