Via Francigena, Tuscany, Italy

The Via Francigena is a pilgrimage route to Rome from the North. It can run as far as Canterbury, though it is simple enough to pick it up at other points in France or Italy. Several of the people staying in my accommodation tonight started in Lucca, for instance. The English section is pretty short. In fact, the whole thing doesn't seem massive. Perhaps it is because I've been in Italy over 4 weeks, so feel I have come a long long way in that time (but haven't, really, with more lateral travel than other), but I was surprised to see a sign saying 'only' 1311km to Canterbury. England, France, Italy - that feels close.

Sign with distances. Roma 312, Canterbury 1311.

Via Francigena information and route maps, English version.

The way is under development in places, and is re-routed from time to time. I was  diverted from what looks to be a nice path in San Miniato - perhaps it has been muddy over the winter - and around a field to the South. Neither were dramatic. Entertainingly, the wikipedia page suggests people occasionally re-route towards their restaurant or other business. And I ran up a path, round the back of San Miniato, which had some old paint to mark the route, but is now not a part of it. You'd not go far wrong taking an old path, from my limited experience.

Below, a few pictures of different route markings. The stickers seem the newest, but the old ones still apply. Sometimes.

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There are also a few apps with directions etc. I tried Sloways and Via Francigena, and both seemed useful. The route was simple enough to follow - a couple of times the way wasn't clear at a t-junction, but there was a sign soon after. So if you don't see one, try the other direction. The apps may be of most use in looking ahead to get an idea of where you'll be headed the next day.

Green view.

There are occasional points of medical aid. This one had a book of dedications, held in a saucepan which was held up by pile of rocks and a saucepan as a lid.

Sign to Book of Francigena.

Sometimes the views dropping away to the side are beautiful, and are the obvious thing to look at, but there are details to spot along the way, too.

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I ran the first 11km of (Italian) stage 30, paused, ran back about 6km and then walked the rest of the way (much of which was uphill), stopping at a small cafe cum shop about 2km out of San Miniato. It was fabulous. As the route description has it;

"A marvellous route, quite hard lacking road-houses [which means there are few places to eat, Ed]. From San Miniato, after an hour walk along the asphalt road, enter an extraordinary track among hill crests in Val d'Elsa."

That hour's walk translates to just over 5km mostly on the roads (occasional paths along the side avoid the more dangerous stretches) before you turn onto a solid, pebbly underneath, winding trail.

Panorama of Tuscan countryside.

An orderly line of trees along the route.

Panorama of Tuscan view. There are few places where you can't see something like this.

It's a lovely walk. I might be converted and do some more of these stages. Without religion, but I felt no sense that I didn't belong.

I was drawn to the rocky outcrops.