Chances are, if you choose to walk the Via Francigena through Tuscany and Lazio, you might consider yourself to be a bit of a foodie. This stretch of the Via Francigena is an obvious choice for anyone who loves food and dining! We recently walked from Lucca to Rome enjoying delicious food along the way. Here’s our guide to the best restaurants on the Via Francigena in Tuscany and Lazio.
5 Michelin star restaurants on the Via Francigena in Tuscany and Lazio
If you’re walking the Via Francigena from Lucca to Rome and looking to enjoy a special meal to celebrate, look no further than five Michelin star restaurants on the Via Francigena in Tuscany and Lazio. There are many more than this, but these are in our view the most interesting.
Giglio Restaurant in Lucca
Giglio restaurant is set in a stunning piazza, in the heady and romantic city of Lucca. We loved starting our walk in Lucca, and a fabulous Michelin star meal would be the perfect start to any walking adventure.
We love Giglio as you can choose to sit outside in the piazza or inside in the dining room. The eight course tasting menu will cost 110 Euros. Food at Giglio is a high class fusion of Italian ingredients with French cookery techniques.
Linfa Restaurant in San Gimignano
San Gimingnano was one of our favourite stops on the walk from Lucca to Rome. A buzzing and historic tourist town, famous for the regional wine. Linfa restaurant is in the heart of the historic old town. Here, an 8 course tasting menu can be enjoyed for 130 Euros. A perfect treat for day four of the walk from Lucca to Rome.
Arnolfo Restaurant in Colle di Val d’Elsa
Chef Gaetano Trovato heads up the kitchen of family run restaurant Arnolfo. With two Michelin stars, Arnolfo is a real treat for hungry walkers heading through Colle di Val d’Elsa on day five of the walk from Lucca to Rome.
Showcasing local ingredients, the Tuscan tasting menu changes regularly and costs 200 Euros. Arnolfo takes pride of place in a stunning glass fronted building with views over the city.
La Parolina Restaurant in Trevinano
La Parolina restaurant is in Trevinanano, which is not quite on the Via Francigena route. However, it is just a short 15 minute drive from Aquapendente, which you will arrive at on day ten or eleven if walking from Lucca to Rome.
The food at La Parolina takes influence from Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio to create special Italian cuisine. The tasting menus start at 150 Euros per person
Pulejo Restaurant in Rome
The location of this restaurant is perfect for anyone arriving into Rome on the Via Francigena. It is nestled into the heart of the Prati district, which is very close to the Vatican. When we walked to Rome, we chose to stay in Prati as the accommodation was good value and we wanted to stumble from the Vatican to our hotel! Even better if you can stumble from your hotel to dinner!
Pulejo restaurant, headed up by chef Davide Puleio, is a new restaurant in Rome. It has already made a name for itself and has gained one Michelin star. The modern five course tasting menu costs 70 Euros, whilst the seven course option is 90 Euros. You can also opt for A La Carte if you have a table of less than 4 people.
5 best restaurants for Pilgrims on the Via Francigena in Tuscany and Lazio
If you’re looking for hearty food in a low key setting, or budget options, then the following 5 restaurants on the Via Francigena in Tuscany and Lazio are great options for you. We enjoyed all five. We were welcomed in with open arms and helped out with very full stomachs!
Chianti and Pizza in Siena
Siena is full of pizza places, but we liked Chianti and Pizza as you can get inexpensive pizza and wine and sit inside. It can be fun to get takeout in Siena and sit in the Piaza, but if the weather is a little cool, we recommend visiting Chianti and Pizza instead.
Ristorante La Grotta in Radiciofani
If you’re walking from Lucca to Rome, you will get to Radiciofani on day nine or ten most likely. We loved the hillside town of Radicofani, but the walk into it is one of the steepest climbs on the Via Francigena in Italy.
Subsequently, La Grotta is the perfect anecdote to all of the calories that you’ve burned off. This quaint restaurant offers the biggest plates of pasta that we have ever seen. You can also get a range of different secondi meat courses, great puddings and local house wine for budget prices.
Trattoria La Dogana in Centeno
We came across Trattoria La Dogana in Centeno on day ten, when walking from Radicofani to Aquadente. An unassuming restaurant from the outside, inside the restaurant is large and a local family favourite.
We visited on a Sunday and enjoyed a lunch of pasta, salad and wine for 40 Euros for two people. A heart warming restaurant with log burners and comfortable seating.
Ristorante La Francigena in Bolsena
In summer months, Ristorante La Francigena offers a pilgrim menu, with a few different course options. Outside of the summer, there is an a la carte menu to choose from. This includes pizza, pasta and secondi dishes as well as a few nice puddings. House local wine is also available making a night out here for pilgrims an inexpensive outing.
La Sfera D’Oro in Sutri
La Sfera D’Oro is located on the main square in Sutri with some fabulous tables outside. Inside, the restaurant is quaint and packed full of history with photos from years gone by on the walls. We found the staff here to be extremely welcoming, even when we turned up with our backpacks.
John and Emma’s hiking gear. These are items we love to use when we go hiking, find them here on Amazon.
Osprey 40L, Multi, O/S
HOKA ONE ONE Mens Speedgoat 4 Textile Synthetic Trainers
HOKA ONE ONE Women’s Clifton 8
CWVLC Unisex Cushioned Compression Athletic Ankle Socks Multipack
Compeed Callouses 6 Medium Plasters
Montem Ultra Strong Trekking, Walking, and Hiking Poles – One Pair (2 Poles)
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