Italy's old towns are often home to the remains of an old castle begging to be explored, and ancient cobble-stone streets that are perfect for getting lost in. Viterbo's historic centre is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in central Italy. Although every town in Italy seems to have an amazing church, the 14th Century Orvieto Cathedral is truly spectacular.
What was the food like?
There were so many food highlights on this walking holiday. Lake Bolsena is known for its Coregone, a white fish that we tried pan friend and thoroughly enjoyed. Orvieto's menus feature a lot of game, for example, wild boar sausages. At our farm stay near Sutri we had wild pork that had been caught locally and cooked by Mama in the kitchen.
The 'classico' white wine in Orvieto is excellent, and Montefiascone is famous for its Est, Est, Est! wine - both go down extremely well after a day on the pilgrim trail.
What was the most memorable place you stayed?
Overall, the accommodation was fantastic - a nice blend of 3-star hotels and farm stays. My favourite was our farm stay or 'agriturismo' near Sutri, which was a working hazelnut farm and had a pool. After our walk that day, a cold beer by the pool was a real treat. The farm stay was run by a mother, daughter and their golden lab, who all made us feel welcome (especially the lab!). Another highlight was staying in the wings of a 10th century monastery operated by Cistercian Monks in Rome.
How did you train for your walk?
Knowing that some of the towns are on hilltops, we did plenty of walks on hilly terrain. If you're preparing for a walk on the Via Francigena, ensure you do some walks carrying a day pack so you can get a feel for what it will be like.
What are your tips for people planning to cycle or walk the final 100km into Rome?
While a tourist industry has sprung up around the Camino de Santiago, with restaurants offering pilgrim meal deals and plenty of cafes and shops, the Via Francigena is yet to be touched by mass tourism. This meant that on the first few days in particular, we had to take food with us as there wasn't anywhere to buy lunch.
Our detailed trip notes advised which days we needed to pack food for the day. We tried to buy lunch supplies the night before, or failing that in the morning before we left the town we were based in. Italian supermarkets are great for this, with plenty of deli meats, cheeses and wonderful fresh produce on offer. I would recommend bringing a container and cutlery with you. Containers stop your food from getting squashed or spilling over things in your day pack. In my opinion, Italy was made for picnics!
Watch the Inspiring Walk from Orvieto to Rome Along the Via Francigena
Orvieto and Rome are both fascinating towns that are worth extending your stay in. Orvieto is so picturesque and full of arty shops, the spectacular Duomo, interesting museum and 440 caves that you can visit on an underground tour. You could happily base yourself in Rome for a few days to explore its art, architecture, food and culture that contribute to it being one of Europe's most visited cities.
>> Discover the differences between the Via Francigena and the Camino de Santiago in this
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