Credenziali and Testimonium, the Via Francigena’s Pilgrim Passport and Certificate
The Testimonium Peregrinationis ad Limina Petri
Testimonium is the name given to the certificate you can receive when you complete your pilgrimage to Rome along the Via Francigena. The Via Francigena equivalent of the Compostela was awarded to those walking the Camino de Santiago.
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 Cathedra 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:
- Email: [email protected]
- 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, [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
Opening Hours:
– Tuesday to Friday: 12:00–20:00
– Saturday and Sunday: 14:00–20:00
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