Somehow when I’ve arrived in the past at La Villa, about 6.5km after Monteriggioni on the way to Siena, the pilgrim rest area was unoccupied and bare, just a few tables and chairs. It’s now blossomed into a very helpful and abundant resource, an enterprise of its owner, Marcello Pagnini. He has snacks and drinksContinue reading “Punta Sosta – La Villa: info about this favourite pilgrim rest area and lodging”
Category Archives: Via Francigena Part 3 – Book Updates
New entry to San Miniato
I was alerted to the new entry to San Miniato by pilgrim Lisa Hettler-Smith and today I had a chance to walk it myself. After leaving the retail district of San Miniato Basso you continue the normal way up the dike path, but then follow signs across the canal to a new gravel trail thatContinue reading “New entry to San Miniato”
Pedestrian bridge closure after Bagno Vignoni
(Via Francigena Part 3, Stage 9, p. 95) Since last year the pedestrian bridge crossing the Orcia River below Bagno Vignoni has been closed. This weekend while visiting the location I found pilgrims confused about how to reconnect the VF trail after taking the Via Cassia detour. Please see the map above for the easiestContinue reading “Pedestrian bridge closure after Bagno Vignoni”
Via Francigena Variant – Lucca to Altopascio through Sant’Andrea di Compito
I always cringe a little when people say they don’t want to walk the Francigena between Lucca and Altopascio, so they start their Tuscan walk at someplace like San Miniato, which of course is a fine town. It’s just that to miss Lucca is to miss one of the highlights of the Via Francigena. AlongContinue reading “Via Francigena Variant – Lucca to Altopascio through Sant’Andrea di Compito”
New instructions for receiving your testimonium at St Peter’s Basilica
After finishing a very lovely Way of St Francis from Florence to Assisi and Rome I experienced for myself the changes I’d been hearing about in the process for receiving the testimonium certificate for walks like this and the Via Francigena ending in Rome. Here’s a quick walk-through for walking pilgrims on any route lookingContinue reading “New instructions for receiving your testimonium at St Peter’s Basilica”
Via Francigena Part 3 Stage 5: Revised route through Colle di Val d’Elsa
The stewards of the Via Francigen made an excellent choice a few months ago to turn the Colle di Val d’Elsa option into the main route and to improve it by connecting it to the stunningly beautiful Sentiero Elsa pathway and park. Because of 2-3 stairways and 4 river crossings on boulders, the path isContinue reading “Via Francigena Part 3 Stage 5: Revised route through Colle di Val d’Elsa”