Stage 53: Santa Cristina e Bissone to Piacenza
Walk 22 km from Santa Cristina e Bissone to Piacenza on the Via Francigena pilgrimage trail through Italy.
Distance
22 km
Elevation gain
94 m
Elevation loss
88 m
Time
~5.5 h
Difficulty
Easy
Terrain
Flat
Highlights along the way
- Po river crossing
- Piacenza Piazza Cavalli
- Palazzo Gotico
- Piacenza Cathedral
What to expect on this stage
Stage 53 of the Via Francigena takes you 22 km from Santa Cristina e Bissone to Piacenza through Italy, climbing 94 metres and descending 88 metres over flat. Most walkers complete this stage in around 5.5 hours at a steady pace. The terrain is rated easy, with abundant water sources along the way and poor shade.
Getting there
Public transport access: train.
About the Via Francigena
The Via Francigena is the ancient 1,900 km pilgrimage route from Canterbury, England to Rome, Italy, recorded in 990 AD by Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury. It crosses England, France, Switzerland and Italy across 84 daily stages, ending at St Peter's Square in the Vatican.