To make your walk comfortable, you should seriously consider what shoes to wear, which should be light but able to guarantee stability for the ankles. It’s useful to have waterproof shoes (especially if you want to walk the route in a rainy period or cross through water), but they should also be breathable, so your feet can stay dry in order to avoid painful blisters. Blisters can also be avoided with specialized socks that are reinforced around the heel and toes, as well as with specific Band-Aids.

Your backpack is also a fundamental aspect because you risk making your journey uncomfortable if it’s too heavy. The golden rule is that the backpack not exceed 10% of your own weight, has a capacity of 40 litres and sticks well to your back; this way you can avoid wasting energy due to an unbalanced pack. To protect your clothing and other personal items, it’s also a good idea to cover your backpack when it rains.

You should pack only what is strictly necessary. Here are our suggestions for pilgrims walking the entire length of the Francigena in Tuscany or multiple stretches back-to-back:

• 1 backpack (during the summer a sleeping bag liner works well)
• 1 flashlight, better if it’s a headlamp
• 1 water bottle, at least 1 litre in size
• 1 waterproof poncho or jacket, breathable and wind-resistant
• 1 fleece sweater, better if it has a zipper
• 1 walking sweater
• 1 extra sweater
• 1 pair of walking pants (short or long depending on your preferences, but which dries quickly, i.e. between evening and morning)
• 1 pair of extra pants
• 2 changes of underwear, preferably microfiber, which dry quickly
• 2 pairs of socks
• 1 set of pyjamas
• Tissues
• 1 towel (also microfiber)
• 1 hat to protect yourself from the sun and good sunscreen
• Soap, toothpaste, brush and deodorant
• First-aid kid (with Band-Aids, cotton and something for insect bites)
• Documents (including your health card and Pilgrim’s Credentials)
• Sunglasses (and reading glasses, if necessary)
• An extra pair of shoes and slippers
• Bathing suit (you don’t want to miss the chance to relax at the hot springs!)

The rest is up to you. You could throw in a notebook and pen to record your thoughts along the way, or you could bring a light camera, or even better, a good book to read during your downtime. In any case, you should always remember that your backpack will be your main travel companion, and having a good rapport with it will be key to taking on the hike with ease.

The use of technological devices can be really useful on the walk, especially for amateur hikers. Modern smartphones and tablets allow pilgrims to see their position on the map thanks to GPS, read guides, surf the internet and make telephone calls (even in an emergency, if need be). These devices are also relatively light, a fundamental aspect for anyone backpacking.

On this website, in the Find Your Bearings section, you can find KML maps for every leg, which you can download to your smartphone or tablet so you can always have them with you along the way. To see the maps on your device, you need to install an app that can read the downloaded files (on the App Store and Play Store, you can find several apps capable of reading KML files, some even free).

Lastly, the official via Francigena guide is available as an e-book (for a fee) through the free app “I Percorsi di Terre di mezzo,” which also has a GPS feature so you can know where you are.