Stage 4 of the Via Francigena covers 13.8 km from Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano, with 414 m of ascent and 408 m of descent. The highest point is 397 m. Allow about 3.5 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Monastero di San Girolamo
Guest house of the Vallombrosan Benedictine nuns inside the walls, 300 m from the trail: 33 beds in rooms of 2 to 5, breakfast available. Booking required.
Historic hotel on Piazza della Cisterna in the heart of the old town, almost on the trail.
Hotel on Piazza della Cisterna, on the trail in the old town.
Donation-based hostel of the Confraternita di San Jacopo in the Sant'Agostino convent, 10 bunks with shared dinner, only for long-distance pilgrims with a credential. Open Easter to early October; no bookings, but call the day before.
Camping Il Boschetto di Piemma
Campsite on the trail 2 km after San Gimignano with a pilgrim area of 3-bed bungalows with bathroom; pizzeria and minimarket, bus to town.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "listed, not confirmed" appear on a public listing (the Via Francigena Toscana site, Gronze or OpenStreetMap) but could not be confirmed on their own website. Donation-based pilgrim hostels (donativo) usually take no bookings and open in the afternoon; private and religious hostels, B&Bs and hotels can be booked. Several hostels close from about November to March, and small places such as Ponte d'Arbia, Radicofani and Sutri have few beds: book ahead in spring and autumn.
Emergency: call 112 (free from any phone). Medical emergency: 118. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.