Via Francigena emergency & health guide: hospitals, 112, 118 and pharmacies

Emergency numbers

Say the stage, the nearest village or road and, if you can, your GPS coordinates. Mobile signal is good along almost the whole route, but keep your phone charged and tell your next hostel if you will be late.

Rules to know

• Credential: pilgrim hostels take only walkers with a pilgrim credential (credenziale), and some only long-distance pilgrims. Get the official AEVF credential before you start and have it stamped once or twice a day.
• Testimonium: the certificate of pilgrimage is given at the pilgrim reception point at St Peter's Basilica to those who walked at least the last 100 km (or cycled 200 km), as shown by the stamps.
• Donation hostels (donativo): a donation is not free lodging; leave a fair amount. They usually keep you one night, take no bookings and open in the afternoon. The Spedale della Provvidenza in Rome allows at most two nights.
• Roads: take care on the road through Corte Ginori and at provincial road crossings between Lucca and Altopascio, and on the Via Cassia between Centeno and Ponte Gregoriano before Acquapendente, where the longer Proceno variant is safer. Walk facing the traffic.
• Water: several stages have no water between villages (Lucca – Altopascio; Gambassi – San Gimignano, water only at Pancole; Siena – Ponte d'Arbia, only at Cuna and Quinciano; San Quirico – Radicofani, only at Bagno Vignoni and Gallina). Carry at least 2 litres in summer.
• Heat: July and August are very hot and there is little shade in the Val d'Orcia and northern Lazio. Start at dawn and rest in the hottest hours.
• Monte Mario: on the last stage parts of the Monte Mario park have been closed for fallen trees (AEVF, 2023), with a signed alternative via the Insugherata park and the Monte Mario – Monte Ciocci cycle path. Check AEVF news before the last day.
• Dogs: some hostels accept dogs only with notice or with the other guests' agreement, and some not at all. Check before you go, and keep dogs on a lead near farms and livestock.

Before you go, check the AEVF website for diversions and the season of the hostels you plan to use. Trains reach Lucca, Altopascio, San Miniato, Poggibonsi, Siena, Buonconvento, Viterbo and La Storta, which makes it easy to shorten the walk. Since August 2026 the EAVF credential gives a discount on the Roma Pass.

Nearest hospital for each stage

Hospitals

Local hospitals and clinics

Small local hospitals and clinics on the route do not all have an emergency department. Montefiascone hospital has none: ASL Viterbo lists emergency departments only at Acquapendente, Belcolle (Viterbo), Civita Castellana and Tarquinia. Acquapendente has a small 24-hour emergency department that treats general cases and sends serious ones on to Viterbo. For minor problems, ask a pharmacist first: Italian pharmacists give advice and many medicines without a prescription.

Pharmacies, cash and supplies

• Pharmacies: Lucca, Altopascio, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, Ponte d'Arbia, Siena, Radicofani, Acquapendente, Bolsena, Montefiascone, Viterbo, Vetralla, Sutri, La Storta, Rome
• ATMs: Lucca, San Miniato, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Siena, Ponte d'Arbia, Acquapendente, Bolsena, Viterbo, Vetralla, Sutri, Rome
• Shops: Lucca, Altopascio, San Miniato, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Siena, San Quirico d'Orcia, Radicofani, Acquapendente, Bolsena, Montefiascone, Viterbo, Vetralla, Sutri, Campagnano di Roma, La Storta, Rome
• Bus stops: Lucca, Altopascio, San Miniato, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Siena, Ponte d'Arbia, San Quirico d'Orcia, Radicofani, Acquapendente, Bolsena, Montefiascone, Viterbo, Sutri, Campagnano di Roma, La Storta, Rome

Italy has a duty-pharmacy rota (farmacia di turno): every pharmacy shows the one on duty at night, on Sundays and on holidays on its door. There are pharmacies in Lucca, Altopascio, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, Siena, Ponte d'Arbia, San Quirico d'Orcia, Radicofani, Acquapendente, Bolsena, Montefiascone, Viterbo, Vetralla, Sutri, La Storta and Rome. Monteriggioni has none inside the walls, and villages between stage ends rarely have one, so carry a blister and first-aid kit.

Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.