The first place among treks in Italy undoubtedly belongs to the Via Francigena. The route originates in Canterbury, England, crosses France and Switzerland and finally enters Italy via the Gran San Bernardo pass. The Francigena originated as a pilgrimage route that crosses the whole of Europe vertically and has Rome as its ultimate destination.

Although its religious vocation is undeniable, the Via Francigena was travelled over the centuries by different types of people: by merchants transporting their goods through the various European kingdoms, by medieval soldiers and by scholars on the Grand Tour.