Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 219
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 219 – PASSAGE – 3
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 219
READING PASSAGE – 3
The Francigena Way
The via Francigena or Francigena Way is a Thistorical pilgrimage route from Canterbury Cathedral in England to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is similar to the more well-known but shorter pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago, which crosses the north of Spain. The current usable path of the Francigena begins in the north of France, goes through the pass of St Bernard in Switzerland, crossing the base of the Alps into Italy, and winds its way down to Rome.
The 30-kilometre English section from Canterbury to Dover on the coast, now lies under the A2 motorway. However, from France to Rome there is a continuous narrow road, which is best preserved in the Italian territory. After Rome, the passage continues on a route called the Southern Francigena to the coast of Puglia, which historically enabled pilgrims to travel by ship across the Mediterranean to the Holy Land.
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1,000 kilometers of the route is in the Italian territory through the regions of Aosta, Piedmont Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Liguria and Lazio. The French section of the route almost fell into disuse after the medieval period as ships started taking the faster route by ship around France and Spain and through the Mediterranean to Rome, or even directly on to the coast near the city of Jerusalem. The Italian parts of the route are mainly in mountainous areas so they were never developed into modern roads, and the exact path can still be walked today, across open fields, through woodlands, and over ancient stone bridges right up to the gates of Rome.
Written records date the route back to the pre-Christian era, with the Romans calling it the Lombardian Way. Archaeologists, however, have found evidence of its existence dating all the way back to at least the Bronze Age.
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The name via Francigena (meaning ‘road from France’) was first documented in 876 CE when monks from Monte Amiata in Tuscany referred to their abbey as one of the route’s stops for pilgrims. Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury, took the 1,800 kilometre route from Rome to Canterbury in 990 CE, while returning from a meeting with the Pope in Rome (and it is presumed he arrived at Rome by the same route). Sigeric wrote a journal recording the experience of his journey and he was the first to do this.
In the 1860s, Sigeric’s journal was published as a book for the first time and some interest in the Francigena Way was revived. However, until the twentieth century, it remained mostly obscure, and the length of it was only traversed by a few enthusiastic historians and pilgrims. Shorter sections along the route were used by local people between villages, but as new roads in the 1800s allowed for more direct routes, the Francigena practically fell into disuse.
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In recent years, it has been reborn as not only a religious walk but also a scenic route for trekking enthusiasts. The part of the route that passes through Tuscany in particular is thought to be the most picturesque and has become a huge tourist attraction. This Tuscan section is broken into distances of around 8 to 10 kilometres that can be comfortably walked in one day, between a series of tiny hillside villages that are now revitalized with rural B&Bs and restaurants, servicing the walkers as they follow the ancient path.
The Francigena Way passes through Switzerland in the canton of Valais close to the Italian border, and the route goes through the ancient low pass of St Bernard. This is where Napoleon Bonaparte famously passed into Italy, which was immortalized in a number of paintings, most likely inspired by the wonderful scenery. This is another very beautiful stage of the route, passing lakes and alpine fields and following around the base of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe.
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The part of the Francigena Way stretching through France from the coastal city of Calais to the border of Switzerland, is less trekked than the paths in Italy and Switzerland. There are often great distances between the places to stay along the French legs, and walkers often have to camp on the side of the road when it starts getting dark due to scarcity of accommodation.
It is a route better suited to cycling because of this. Some parts of the route have light motorized traffic, but other parts lead into hidden paths through woods and hillsides. The French government has recently started taking an interest in preserving and renovating some sections of the Francigena Way, so in coming years it may become easier to make the journey on foot.
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Few people walk the complete Francigena, which takes between 80 and 90 days to complete on foot. The best time to take the route is during the spring or autumn season, when the temperatures are milder and there are fewer tourists. The route consists of country roads and stony mountainous paths – though they are not of a very high altitude, and as such, walkers do not have to be very experienced. One of the attractions of walking even a part of the Francigena Way is its pure simplicity.
Travellers can only take as much as they can carry, and do not have access to Wi-Fi or mobile phone signal at numerous points on the trip. Much of the journey is virtually unchanged in landscape and wildlife since its early Christian beginnings, so walking along the paths can fire the imagination about the many other people who have taken this path over the centuries.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 28-32
Choose ONE WORD from the text for each answer.
The Francigena Route
The starting point was originally in England at the cathedral in 28…………. but the route to the coast now lies under a motorway.
↓
The Francigena Way now really begins at the city of 29………….. and travels through France to Switzerland.
↓
The route then passes through the canton of Valais, crosses the Alps in Switzerland at the pass of 30 ………. and enters Italy. The Francigena then winds its way through eight 31………. of Italy, finally arriving at the city of 32 …………. .
Questions 33-36
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Early records of the Francigena Way
The Francigena Way was called the Lombardian Way by the Romans, but there is archaeological 33 ………….. of the road being there for thousands of years.
The first time the Francigena Way was mentioned in writing was when 34 ………. in Tuscany wrote about pilgrims visiting them. Sigeric, the Archbishop of Canterbury, recorded the 35………. of his return to England in a journal.
The French part of the Francigena Way stopped being used as much after medieval times because people began travelling to Rome by 36….. .
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Questions 37-40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
37. Why has the Francigena Way become more popular in recent years?
A. Because Sigeric’s journal has been published.
B. Because a large number of historians have studied it.
C. Because it has become a site for leisure and exercise.
D. Because it is physically challenging.
38. The text reveals that Napoleon Bonaparte
A. commissioned paintings of himself at the pass of St Bernard.
B. used the Francigena Way to enter the Italian territories.
C. thought the scenery around the Francigena was wonderful.
D. was painted at the foot of Mont Blanc on his way to Italy.
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39. Why is the French part of the route better for cyclists than walkers?
A. There are long distances between rest points.
B. It is safer to cycle than walk on public roads.
C. The French government prefers to promote cycling.
D. Cyclists are better equipped for camping.
40. A reason people enjoy walking parts of the Francigena Way is
A. they get to exercise by walking up the mountains.
B. it offers an uncomplicated way of travelling.
C. they can stay in touch with the outside world easily.
D. the weather is always pleasant.
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ANSWERS ARE BELOW
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
28-CANTERBURY
29-CALAIS
30-ST BERNARD
31-REGIONS
32-ROME
33-EVIDENCE
34-MONKS
35-EXPERIENCE
36-SHIP
37-C
38-B
39-A
40-B
IELTS General Reading Test