The Testimonium is the official pilgrim certificate awarded in Rome after walking at least the last 100 km of the Via Francigena on foot (or cycling 200 km). To receive it, you need a stamped Credenziali (Via Francigena pilgrim passport), which you can get at tourist offices and pilgrim points along the route — including Canterbury, Lucca, San Miniato, Siena and Viterbo — or order online before your trip from the European Association of the Via Francigena (EAVF). On arrival in Rome, present your stamped Credenziali at Saint Peter’s Basilica or the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi office to receive your Testimonium.
Credenziali and Testimonium, the Via Francigena’s Pilgrim Passport and Certificate
The Testimonium Peregrinationis ad Limina Petri
The Testimonium — full name Testimonium Peregrinationis ad Limina Petri, is the official pilgrim certificate of the Via Francigena, awarded in Rome to pilgrims who have walked at least the last 100 km of the route on foot. It is the Via Francigena equivalent of the Compostela on the Camino de Santiago, the formal recognition that you have completed your pilgrimage to Rome.
To request your Testimonium, remember to take your ‘credenziali‘ or pilgrim passport and stamp it along the way.
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How to get the Testimonium, Via Francigena Pilgrim Certificate
If you do the Via Francigena for Religious reasons:
You can get the Testimonium at Saint Peter’s Basilica. Here’s how:
Head to the reception desk at the Basilica and present your pilgrim credential to the staff there. To find the reception area for pilgrims, look for a special path known as the “Prayer Route” or “Percorso Preghiera.” This is marked by yellow signs and is located on the right side of the Basilica.
Once you pass the security checks carried out by the Italian Police, follow the yellow signs to reach the reception area. This will be situated within the Basilica’s cloakroom, just beyond the stained glass window.
In addition to picking up your Testimonium at the reception, you can also complete a survey about your pilgrimage journey for data collection. Other amenities include luggage storage, restroom facilities, and entry to Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Sacred Vatican Grottoes. These are open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:45 p.m.
The reception desk is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. If there’s a Papal Audience in the Square on a Wednesday, the timings are from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Moreover, there’s a daily Pilgrim’s Mass at the Altar of the Cathedral at 6:00 p.m.
For further details or to make reservations, you can get in touch with the relevant office through the following means:
- Contact them via their website http://www.papalaudience.org/
- Phone: +39 06 6982 (At switchboard request ext 82137)
- Mobile: +39 366 5775511
I hope this clarifies how to get the Testimonium at Saint Peter’s Basilica. Safe travels on your journey!
Alternatively…
You can also request the Testimonium from the San Lorenzo Pilgrims Office Ad Limina Petri (Via Pfeiffer 24) in Rome. The centre is open Monday to Friday from 11 am to 5 pm (Summer time only).
If you do it for Cultural and Religious reasons
You can request your Testimonium certificate from Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi if you walk to Rome for religious or cultural reasons.
Present your credential at the office of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (Piazza Pio XII, 9) in Saint Peter’s Square (Open Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm).
In any case, your stamped Via Francigena pilgrim passport or ‘credential’ (as with the Camino de Santiago) will be the proof that you have walked the distance required to apply for the Via Francigena Testimonium and must be stamped from the beginning point of your journey to Rome and all along the way.
*Sources: Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, Association Internationale Via Francigena, PilgrimstoRome.org.uk, VieFrancigene.org
What should I do to get the Testimonium?
First, you must obtain a Via Francigena Pilgrim Credential or Credenziali (see below) and stamp it once a day along the route. You can get stamps from Churches, bars, restaurants and hotels… Any proof that you walked or cycled past the villages along the way will suffice.
Then, you must walk the Via Francigena final 100 km to Rome or cycle the last 200 km of the Via Francigena to Rome.
Finally, your pilgrim credential will qualify you to obtain the Testimonium, which officially recognises your pilgrimage.
What is the Credenziali?
The Credenziali, also known as the “pilgrim passport,” is an essential document for travellers on the Via Francigena. This passport gets stamped at various locations you visit, like tourist offices, churches, lodgings, and eateries.
But this document isn’t just a sentimental keepsake. Issued by the European Association of the Via Francigena (EAVF), the Credential offers multiple perks for pilgrims:
- You’ll find special discounts at numerous restaurants, bars and lodgings along the path.
- Exclusive travel discounts with certain transportation providers partnering with the EAVF. For instance, you can get a 10% discount on regional train tickets with Trenitalia and Trenord for specific routes. If you prefer taking the bus, a 10% discount is available across the FlixBus network, and you can even bring your bike along.
Purchasing a Credential also helps support the groups who maintain the Via Francigena:
- It funds the upkeep and signage of the route and rest stops for pilgrims.
- It helps create and distribute maps and informational material for the route.
- It maintains a free App available for iPhone and Android, which offers GPS guidance for the entire Via Francigena route, from Canterbury in England to Rome in Italy and the ports of Puglia. The app is even accessible without an internet connection.
- It allows for regular updates to the database of accommodations along the route.
- It helps maintain the official communication channels of the Via Francigena.
- Lastly, your purchase supports the efforts to gain UNESCO recognition for the Via Francigena as an international cultural route.
So, as you see, the Credential is not only a record of your journey but also a way to make your trip smoother while supporting the trail and its community
Where to get your Via Francigena Pilgrim Passport?
Get from the UK
Beaney House of Art and Knowledge of Canterbury, Visitor Information desk, 18 High Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2RA. Ph. 01227 862 162, canterburyinformation at canterbury.gov.uk
In Italy, Get the Pilgrim Passport
Siena – Visitor Information
Santa Maria della Scala Bookshop
Entrance: Palazzo Squarcialupi, Piazza Duomo 1, 53100 Siena
Phone: +39 0577 283586
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:30–18:30
Catechistic Bookshop (Libreria Catechistica)
Address: Via dei Fusari 46, 53100 Siena
Phone: +39 0577 289171
Email: lib.catechistica at libero.it
Opening Hours:
– Monday to Thursday: 09:00–13:00 and 15:30–19:30
– Saturday: 09:00–13:00
Lucca – Visitor Information
Via Francigena Entry Point
Address: Via dei Bacchettoni 8, 55100 Lucca
Phone: +39 334 1046719
Email: info at viafrancigenaentrypoint.eu
Opening Hours (Summer): Thursday to Sunday, 10:30–13:00 and 15:00–18:00
Municipal Tourist Office (Comune di Lucca)
Location: Vecchia Porta San Donato, Piazzale Verdi, 55100 Lucca
Phone: +39 0583 583150
Email: info at luccaitinera.it
Opening Hours:
– April to October: 09:30–18:30
– November to March: 09:30–16:30
Tourist Center Lucca
Address: Piazzale Ricasoli 203, 55100 Lucca
Phone: +39 0583 494401
Mobile: +39 338 8213952
Email: info at touristcenterlucca.com
Opening Hours: 09:30–19:00 daily
Cathedral Museum of Lucca (Museo della Cattedrale di Lucca)
Location: Piazza Antelminelli 5, 55100 Lucca
Phone: +39 0583 490530
Email: segreteria at museocattedralelucca.it
Opening Hours:
– Summer: Monday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00
– Winter: Monday to Friday, 10:00–14:00; Saturday and Sunday, 10:00–18:00
San Miniato – Visitor Information
San Miniato Promotion Foundation (Fondazione San Miniato Promozione)
Address: Piazza del Popolo 1, 56028 San Miniato (PI)
Phone: +39 0571 42745
Email: ufficio.turismo at sanminiatopromozione.it
Opening Hours:
– Monday: 09:00–13:00
– Tuesday to Sunday: 09:00–17:00
San Miniato Tourist Association (Associazione Turistica Pro Loco di San Miniato)
Address: Piazza del Popolo 31, 56028 San Miniato (PI)
Phone: +39 0571 42233
Email: prolocosanminiato at virgilio.it
Opening Hours:
– Monday to Friday: 09:00–12:00 and 14:30–17:30
– Saturday and Sunday: Open depending on volunteer availability
Viterbo – Visitor Information
Viterbo Tourist Office (Ufficio Turistico di Viterbo)
Address: Piazza Martiri d’Ungheria, 01100 Viterbo
Phone: +39 0761 226427
Email: info at visit.viterbo.it
Opening Hours:
– April to October: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–19:30
– November to March: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–19:00
Bistrot del Teatro
Location: Via Cavour 9, 01100 Viterbo
Mobile: +39 392 3018173
Email: bistrotdelteatrovt at libero.it
Opening Hours:
– Tuesday to Friday: 12:00–20:00
– Saturday and Sunday: 14:00–20:00
Ready to walk the Via Francigena and collect your Testimonium in Rome? The most popular route is the Viterbo to Rome — Last 100km — 6 nights, 112 km, luggage transfers included. Or explore the full Via Francigena from Lucca to Rome for the complete Italian pilgrimage. Use our Camino Planner to check dates and availability, or contact our travel specialists to plan your walk.
For more on what the pilgrimage to Rome involves, read our Via Francigena pilgrimage guide and how to walk the Via Francigena and receive your Testimonium.
FAQs about the Testimonium
The Testimonium (full name Testimonium Peregrinationis ad Limina Petri) is the official pilgrim certificate awarded in Rome to pilgrims who have walked the last 100 km of the Via Francigena on foot, or cycled the last 200 km. It’s the Via Francigena equivalent of the Compostela on the Camino de Santiago — the formal recognition that you’ve completed your pilgrimage to Rome.
You can collect the Testimonium at three different locations in Rome:
– Saint Peter’s Basilica — at the pilgrim reception desk inside the Basilica, following the yellow signs marked “Percorso Preghiera” on the right side. Open daily 7:30am–6:30pm.
– San Lorenzo Pilgrims Office (Via Pfeiffer 24) — open Monday-Friday 11am–5pm in summer.
– Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (Piazza Pio XII, 9, in Saint Peter’s Square) — open daily 9am–5pm. This is the recommended option if you walked for cultural rather than purely religious reasons.
Yes. You must present your Via Francigena Credenziali stamped along the way as proof of your journey. You’ll need at least two stamps per day for the final 100 km (or 200 km if cycling), collected at churches, hotels, restaurants, bars and tourist offices along the route. Without enough stamps, the Pilgrim Office in Rome cannot issue the Testimonium. CaminoWays Via Francigena packages include the Credenziali as part of the travel pack.
You can get the Credenziali (Via Francigena pilgrim passport) in three ways: (1) online before your trip from the European Association of the Via Francigena (EAVF) website at viefrancigene.org; (2) at official starting points like the Beaney House in Canterbury (UK) or tourist offices in Lucca, San Miniato, Siena and Viterbo (Italy); or (3) on arrival at the first major town along your section. CaminoWays clients receive the Credenziali as part of their travel pack.
The Credenziali typically costs €5-€10 at official issuing points along the route, or a similar amount when ordered online from the EAVF. Your purchase helps fund route maintenance, signage and the official Via Francigena app.
The Via Francigena from Viterbo to Rome is the most popular section for pilgrims looking to earn the Testimonium. The route covers 112 km over 6 nights, comfortably exceeding the 100 km minimum, with manageable daily stages and good infrastructure. CaminoWays offers self-guided and guided versions of this route.
No — they’re different documents issued by different organisations. The Camino Credencial is issued by the Cathedral of Santiago and pilgrim associations like American Pilgrims on the Camino. The Via Francigena Credenziali is issued by the European Association of the Via Francigena (EAVF). Each pilgrimage requires its own dedicated passport.
Both are official pilgrim certificates awarded after completing at least 100 km on foot (or 200 km by bike) with a stamped pilgrim passport. The Compostela is awarded in Santiago de Compostela on the Camino de Santiago. The Testimonium is the equivalent in Rome on the Via Francigena. The Compostela is older and more famous, but the Testimonium is gaining recognition as the Via Francigena grows in popularity.
is its equivalent on the Via Francigena, awarded in Rome for walking at least the last 100 km of the Via Francigena. Both require a stamped pilgrim passport as proof of the journey.
Q: Which section of the Via Francigena do I need to walk to qualify?
A: The most popular qualifying section is the Via Francigena from Viterbo to Rome — 112 km over 6 nights, which comfortably exceeds the 100 km minimum. Any starting point at least 100 km from Rome qualifies, provided you have a stamped credenziali throughout.
