EV5
Via Francigena: the great itinerary of the Spirit
142Km
Difficult
ENG
OpenRunner ID:
10751997
Start
San Gimignano
Finish
Radicofani
Gradient
2448meters
Slope max
16.00%
Surfaces:
Asphalt
Dirt/offroad
Paved
Bicycle type
Gravel
MTB
Turism/Comfort

The Francigena, the path taken by Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, to reach Rome and the main communication route used in the ancient world by princes, bishops, merchants and simple pilgrims, is the most important European route that crosses Italy and is recognized as Eurovelo 5 (EV5).

Today the Francigena is a popular cultural itinerary between nature, art and history. The bike path follows largely the route of the path but deviates in order to make it usable with tourist bikes or gravel.

There is an enormous amount of travel proposals on the Francigena that are easily available.  The Sienese route, for its beauty and evocative capacity, constitutes a paradigm of the slow and curious way of traveling.

It is equipped with signs and uses a variety of roads: from low-traffic secondary roads, to dirt roads, cycle paths and paved urban sections.

Covering the 142 km that separate San Gimignano from Radicofani in a single stage is very challenging and therefore we propose a solution that involves stops at some of the main GATEs, without precluding anyone from being able to organize the trip at will by consulting the track provided.

The description of the stages is relative to the itinerary between San Gimignano and Radicofani.

Itinerario e Tappe

GPX track
Stage
1
San Gimignano - Monteriggioni
Medium
Distance
36.00Km
(36.00Km/tot.)
Height difference
561m+
(561.00m+/tot.)
The city of towers is the starting point of the route even if the Sienese track starts from Castagno in Camporbiano just outside the provincial land.
Already in the 10th century San Gimignano was an important road junction from where the road to the sea passed. The guest quarters of the monastery of San Girolamo and the Pilgrim's Village are two good references in the extraordinary city of Val d'Elsa.
The route reaches Poggibonsi where the Archaeodrome, located in the Fortress of Poggio Imperiale, is a sure attraction. It continues to Colle Val d'Elsa, the «daughter of the road», rich in ancient spinning mills, glassworks and paper mills.
Monteriggioni, an iconic medieval village adorned by intact walls with 14 towers, appears like a mirage. Just before Abbadia Isola offers excellent hospitality at the Hostel Contessa Ava.
Stage
2
Monteriggioni - Siena
Easy
Distance
15.80Km
(51.80Km/tot.)
Height difference
294m+
(855.00m+/tot.)
The stage is short and easy to Siena, the city where beauty is one of the indisputable excellences. Known throughout the world, the city offers everything for the traveler, including the Casa delle Balie hostel at Santa Maria della Scala.
Stage
3
Siena - Ponte d'Arbia
Easy
Distance
29.10Km
(80.90Km/tot.)
Height difference
208m+
(1063.00m+/tot.)
The stage is easy even if you have to pay attention to some of the typical ride of Crete Senesi. The GATE is located, after the ancient hospice of Grancia di Cuna and the village of Monteroni d'Arbia, in Ponte d'Arbia, with a small hostel.
Stage
4
Ponte d'Arbia - San Quirico d'Orcia
Medium
Distance
25.60Km
(106.50Km/tot.)
Height difference
562m+
(1625.00m+/tot.)
From Ponte d'Arbia one soon arrives at Buonconvento, an important market on Via Francigena. Not far away the Pieve di Percenna. Torrenieri is close by as is San Quirico, which can be reached after immersing oneself in an abundant dose of the "clay” landscape that is splendidly different, in every season. San Quirico, with a hospitable place near the collegiate church and the hostel Palazzo del Pellegrino, proposes itself to the visitor with all its treasures.
Stage
5
San Quirico d'Orcia - Radicofani
Demanding
Distance
35.50Km
(142.00Km/tot.)
Height difference
823m+
(2448.00m+/tot.)
Challenging stage that from San Quirico leads to the beautiful post of Bagno Vignoni and then runs towards the nature reserve of Lucciola Bella and, having reached the river Merse, goes up to Contignano to reach Radicofani proposing the most beautiful lunar landscape on earth. In Radicofani, the village of Ghino di Tacco, there are two hostels and good genuine food.
San Gimignano
Poggibonsi
Colle di Val d'Elsa
Strove
Badia a Isola
Monteriggioni
Siena
Ponte a Tressa
Monteroni
Ponte d'Arbia
Buonconvento
Torrenieri
San Quirico d'Orcia
Contignano
Radicofani
Ponte a Rigo