Rome to Santiago Route

[Merrymac]

Hello,

My husband and I will be walking the Camino Frances in May/June 2011 to celebrate the year we both turn 70 and to give thanks for all the good things which have come our way over those years. We may be getting on in age, but our feet are still made for walking!

In the latter part of October this year, we will be in Monaco while my husband attends a conference. We want to take several days prior to the conference to do a trial walk to test our equipment and very minimal packing list. Only recently I found out that the Camino route from Rome goes through this part of France. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a scenic and interesting stretch (about 100 or so km) of the Camimo route in this area. We would be prepared to travel from Monaco by train or bus to reach an interesting area.

Thanks for any advice you can give us.

Cheers!

[Sil]

I have a post on my blog about Santiago to Rome

www.amawalker.blogspot.com

The hiking trails around Monaco are on the Via Alpina
Via Alpina - Stage Peillon

[Covey]

Sil.

There was a lot of talk a few years ago that the Italian Government were going to re-open the old Paris to Rome pilgrimage route and establish/re-establish the old chain of shelters which existed in the 1930's. Have you heard anything which might indicate that the route might open again?

[Sil]

The Via Francigena starts in Canterbury and ends in Rome. It loosly follows the route taken by the 10th C bishop Sigeric who walked from Canterbury to Rome in 990AD in order to collect his stole of office after being promoted to Archbishop.
The route was named the 2nd European Cultural Itinerary (after el camino) in 1994.
In spite of promises made by the Italian President, Prodi, a couple of years ago, nothing much has been done to imrpove waymarking. Paul Chinn (co-author) of the Lightfoot Guides to walking the VF recently said on the VF forum:

"The signing standards are poor.
The signing of the official route remains incomplete 2 years after the
completion of (Alberto's) project
The signing done over the last few years is not being maintained and is
already deteriorating badly in some areas
Better signed VF routes are being maintained in competition with the official
route."

I haven't read that there were shelters on the route in recent times. The infrastructure is better in Italy where most regions belong to the AEVF and are supposed to collaborate on waymarking, accommodation etc. The VF doesn't go anywhere near Monaco but the path between Santiago and Rome might.
Rome and Santiago&.JPG