The Via Romea Germanica

The Via Romea Germanica

The first section follows the Isarco Valley, through Vipiteno and Bressanone, immersing itself in the enchanting Alpine landscapes of the Dolomites. It then descends into Trentino, with its vineyards, following part of the ancient Via Claudia Augusta. Touching the enchanting Lake Levico and the green Valsugana, it descends towards the Brenta River, skirting it and entering Veneto at Valstagna, a small village on the river. At Bassano del Grappa we enter the Po Valley and continue to Padua, a beautiful city with the Basilica of Saint Anthony. Crossing the Polesine, along the same route as the Pilgrim's Way of St. Anthony, we cross the border into Emilia-Romagna and reach Ferrara, a beautiful city of art and ancient capital of the Duchy of Ferrara with the House of Este. Evidence of its ancient splendour can be seen in the many architectural works, including the Estense Castle and the magnificent Ferrara Cathedral. After leaving Este, following the Reno, we cross the Comacchio Valleys, a fascinating naturalistic area famous for its colonies of herons and pink flamingos. Passing through the San Vitale pine forest, we reach Ravenna, known as the 'Mosaic Capital', and home to the splendid Mausoleum of Theodoric and Dante's tomb. Going up the green valley of the Bidente River, we enter the Apennines with their panoramic views and beautiful woods. Arriving in the picturesque village of Santa Sofia, we cross the legendary Passo Serra. Here we have two options: to reach Valle Santa or to take the variant that, along the ridge that marks the border between Romagna and Tuscany, takes us to the Sanctuary of La Verna, one of the most important Franciscan sites. The road, through dirt roads, woods, and paths, takes us past the villages of Chitignano and Subbiano to the splendid city of Arezzo with its magnificent Piazza Grande, the Cathedral of Arezzo and the Basilica of San Francesco. We resume our journey towards Castiglion Fiorentino, entering the Val di Chiana, a land of forests, parish churches, and castles. After admiring the historic village with its imposing Town Hall, the Cassero Tower, and Vasari's Loggias, we continue towards Cortona. This splendid city of Etruscan origin preserves interesting architectural works, including the Cathedral of Cortona, the Diocesan Museum, and splendid churches such as the Church of San Francesco, San Niccolò, and the Sanctuary of Santa Margherita. An interesting diversion to the itinerary is the ascent to the Eremo delle Celle, a very evocative place dear to Saint Francis. The itinerary continues towards Lake Trasimeno and enters Umbria at Pozzuolo Umbro, until reaching the beautiful city of Orvieto, home to the Orvieto Cathedral. In Lazio, we reach Civita di Bagnoregio, a characteristic village built on a tuff spur, reachable only by a footbridge. Crossing a wide plateau, we reach Montefiascone, where the Via Romea joins the Via Francigena leading to Rome. Along the Via Cassia, we arrive at Viterbo, the City of the Popes. We continue through Sutri with its Roman amphitheatre and Etruscan necropolis, then past the Monte Gelato waterfalls and the Veio Regional Park. Entering Rome through the Riserva dell'Insugherata and Monte Mario Park, pilgrims finally see the imposing St. Peter's Basilica, a symbol of their journey's end.

Joints and Recognitions

The Via Romea Germanica joins the Cammino di Sant'Antonio, the Cammino di Assisi and the Cammino di Dante. The Via Romea Germanica is included in the Atlas of Italian Routes of MiBACT and has obtained the certification of European Cultural Route from the Council of Europe, the highest recognition that certifies the historical, cultural, and tourist importance of a route, in the same way as the Way of St. James and the Via Francigena.

For those with a week to spare: the Apennines from Forlì to Arezzo

We walk along the Bidente Valley, with its characteristic villages: Civitella, Galeata, and Santa Sofia. This valley is an area of great archaeological value, including the fortified late Roman villa at Meldola, an aqueduct, and other Roman villas. We then follow the Passo della Serra path towards the Valle Santa, a geographical region in the province of Rieti, known for the passage of Saint Francis and the presence of four Franciscan sanctuaries.
A possible variant of the route leads to the Sanctuary of La Verna, a place of great spiritual importance where St. Francis received the stigmata in 1224. Finally, the route reaches Arezzo, a Tuscan city famous for its churches, museums, and works of art.

For those with two weeks: from Cortona to Rome

A good option is to choose the last part of the Via Romea Germanica in Tuscany, and then move on to Umbria and Lazio, covering the distance from Cortona to Rome in two weeks. In Tuscany, you start in Cortona, famous for its Etruscan history, beautiful churches, and breathtaking views of the Val di Chiana and Lake Trasimeno.
We then enter Umbria, passing through the territory of Castiglione del Lago, famous for its Rocca del Leone, a suggestive fortress that dominates the lake and the historic centre of the village. From there, we reach Città della Pieve, a medieval town immersed in a generous and unspoiled countryside.
This leads to Orvieto, known for its position on a tuff rock, which offers a panoramic view of the valley below. Leaving Umbria, we finally enter Lazio, passing through Civita di Bagnoregio, arriving in Montefiascone to travel the last six stages in common with the Via Francigena to Rome.

For mountain lovers in five stages: from the Brenner Pass to Bolzano

A scenic route that passes through Sterzing and reaches the city of Brixen, known for its ecclesiastical architecture and fascinating alleyways. It continues on to Klausen, famous for the Sabiona Monastery, one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in the Tyrol, and then up to the Ritten High Plateau, famous for its earth pyramids, considered among the most beautiful and highest in Europe. From here, you can admire a splendid view of the Dolomites, and then descend to Bolzano, a characteristic town rich in natural and architectural beauty, featuring fascinating Austrian-style buildings that create a fairytale-like atmosphere in the historic centre.

From Arezzo to Orvieto in a week

An itinerary that crosses the green heart of Umbria, offering a journey through rolling hills, ancient villages, and places of deep spirituality. The route begins in Arezzo, a city with a medieval soul, famous for the frescoes of Piero della Francesca and the charming Piazza Grande. From here, the journey continues to Città di Castello, an elegant Renaissance center with its towers and noble palaces.The path then leads to Gubbio, a city with a strong medieval imprint, known for the Palazzo dei Consoli and the tradition of the Corsa dei Ceri. The mystical atmosphere grows as you advance towards Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis, where the magnificent Basilica of Saint Francis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands. Crossing the harmonious Umbrian landscape, you reach Orvieto, imposing atop its tuff cliff. Here, the majestic Orvieto Cathedral leaves visitors breathless with its mosaic-decorated façade and the extraordinary frescoes by Luca Signorelli in the Chapel of San Brizio. A route that combines nature, art, and spirituality, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the most authentic essence of central Italy.

The Credential

The Credential is the document attesting to the pilgrim's journey. It contains the stamps of the accommodation, churchesor bars encountered along the route. It allows access to hospices and to obtain facilities with agreed facilities. Moreover, once in Rome, it allows one to obtain the Testimonium.
The Credential is issued by the Associazione Via Romea Germanica by sending an email to info@viaromeagermanica.com.

The Testimonium

The Testimonium is the document certifying the pilgrimage to Rome. Pilgrims who arrive in Rome and have completed at least the last 200 km on foot (from Città della Pieve) or the last 400 km by bicycle (from Santa Sofia) are entitled to it. The Testimonium is issued by the Pilgrim's Office, at:
- the St. Lawrence Centre,
- St. Peter's Rectory in Piazza Sant'Uffizio,
- the Basilica of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini.

Signposting

The route is well signposted by stickers with an orange arrow on a white background and the words Via Romea Germanica.

The best time to walk the Via Romea Germanica

The Via Romea Germanica branches out over a very heterogeneous territory with a wide altimetrical difference. The highest points are the Brenner Pass at 1,370 m and the Serra Pass at 1,150 m, while the lowest is at sea level. The lowland stages are practicable all year round, unlike the mountain stages, which are preferable from spring to autumn, avoiding the snowy periods when the paths of both the Alps and the Apennines could be impassable.