Highlights
- Lomellina rice country
- Piedmont-Lombardy border
- Mortara Abbey of Santa Croce
Stage conditions
| Section | Po Valley (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Moderate |
| Shade | Minimal |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Vercelli station is on the Turin–Milan line with a diesel branch to Mortara and Pavia that shadows this stage, so Robbio, at the Piedmont–Lombardy border, has a station if you want to shorten the day. Mortara is a proper junction: the Milan–Mortara line (Trenord trains to Milan), the Novara–Alessandria line, and the Vercelli–Pavia line, with Trenord running the Milan, Pavia and Vercelli services and Trenitalia the Casale route. Milan Porta Genova is under an hour, so Mortara is an easy place to break a walk.
What the season does
Best months are April to June and September to October; the stage data drops July and August. The stage is flat and exposed with little shade across the Lomellina rice country, and it is long, 28 km. Spring gives flooded paddies and cool mornings; autumn is mild and dusty with the harvest. In summer the plain is humid as well as hot, and the mosquitoes that come with standing water are at their worst; if you walk it then, be on the road at dawn.
Safety on this stage
Heat and roads again. The source stage pages flag the SS11 leaving Vercelli, where you cross the Sesia bridge with heavy traffic at peak hours, and the SS596 Mortara bypass crossing as you enter Robbio; both need care. After Nicorvo the waymarking is poor and sometimes hidden in tall grass, so carry the GPX. The rest is farm lanes and paddy tracks with farm vehicles. Twenty-eight shadeless kilometres are the real risk: pace yourself and cover up.
Water and food
Water is marked moderate, and the source stage pages are specific: on the first half, fountains only at Palestro; on the second, only at Nicorvo and Madonna del Campo. Leave Vercelli with two litres, refill at Palestro and Robbio (which has bars), and again at Nicorvo. There is nothing across the paddies between. Mortara has shops and cafés around Piazza Martiri della Libertà, where the stage ends in front of the town hall.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory has no listing yet at Mortara, but the town's pilgrim bed is one of the most historic on the route. The Abbazia di Sant'Albino, on the outskirts of Mortara on the Via Francigena itself, was a major medieval pilgrim destination and was restored for the Jubilee of 2000 with accommodation to host pilgrims again; the hostel beside the abbey has eight beds in one room, bathrooms and showers, no kitchen but dinner and breakfast by donation, and is open all year. Call ahead. Mortara also has hotels near the station.
Sources: Wikipedia — Vercelli railway station · Wikipedia (it) — Stazione di Mortara · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT10 Vercelli – Robbio · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT11 Robbio – Mortara · FAI — Abbazia di Sant'Albino, Mortara · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — Abbazia di Sant'Albino, Mortara
Common questions
How long is the Vercelli to Mortara stage?
It is 28.0 km (17.4 mi) and takes about 7 hours of walking, from Vercelli to Mortara.
How hard is Vercelli to Mortara?
It is rated easy with 30 m of ascent and 30 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Vercelli to Mortara stage?
There is a moderate amount of water along this stage — carry enough between resupply points.
How do I get to Vercelli and away from Mortara?
Vercelli station is on the Turin–Milan line with a diesel branch to Mortara and Pavia that shadows this stage, so Robbio, at the Piedmont–Lombardy border, has a station if you want to shorten the day. Mortara is a proper junction: the Milan–Mortara line (Trenord trains to Milan), the Novara–Alessandria line, and the Vercelli–Pavia line, with Trenord running the Milan, Pavia and Vercelli services and Trenitalia the Casale route. Milan Porta Genova is under an hour, so Mortara is an easy place to break a walk.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Mortara?
Our directory has no listing yet at Mortara, but the town's pilgrim bed is one of the most historic on the route. The Abbazia di Sant'Albino, on the outskirts of Mortara on the Via Francigena itself, was a major medieval pilgrim destination and was restored for the Jubilee of 2000 with accommodation to host pilgrims again; the hostel beside the abbey has eight beds in one room, bathrooms and showers, no kitchen but dinner and breakfast by donation, and is open all year. Call 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.