Friday, April 22, 2011

Via Francigena, stage 2/3, April 2011

Centuries old Via Francigena was calling us once again. We continued our journey from Fiorenzuola in Emilia-Romagna and ended this leg in Siena, Tuscany. There were very few pilgrims, during three weeks we only encountered four others walking this route.

The weather was on our side the whole way, blue skies and sunshine for the 375 kilometers, 15 walking days plus a couple of days as tourists in Lucca and Siena. This part was also kind of a gastronomic journey as it took us through the region of Parma and Chianti.

The last leg of the pilgrimage is planned for October 2011 and it will take us to Rome. They say all roads lead to Rome but we managed to get lost a couple of times. We didn't mind it as we took in the sights and scenery. We also took a couple of pictures as seen here below.





Map of stage two, I wasn't able to embed an interactive map.

From Bologna by train to Fioronzuola.


A german 'pilger' outside the parrocchia.



Studying the route in Castelnuovo Fogliani.



Chiesa di San Francesco in Fidenza.



Italian countryside outside Fidenza.



River Taro.




Fornovo di Taro.




Remains from roman time.




A new design on the milemarkers.



Heiligen schrein.




Water for pilgrims.




Two pilgrims resting in Terenzo.




The photographer.



Berceto in sight.



Municipio di Berceto.




Ostello del Pellegrino in Berceto.




Passo della Cisa, alt. 1041 m.



Looking in to Toscana.



Convento Cappuccini in Pontremoli.




Last sight of Pontremoli.




A very good restaurant in Barbarasco.




Fiume Magra.




I think our clothes were much better to walk in.




A strange porthole up in the mountains!!




Fog in the valleys.




Bibola.




A supermercado on wheels. Vecchietto.




Endstation.




Olle e Jean-Luis D.




Small town (Ponzano Superiore) and they are always on the top of a hill.




This time a commercial albergo in Avenza.




Marble everywhere, we are near Massa - Carrara.




Heavy marble blocks.




But Pellegrinis are strong.




Massa - marble everywhere.




The first sight of the Mediterranian and Ligurian Sea.




Roofs in Capanne.




Pleasant to walk on the riverside.




Artist at work.




Casa Diocesana La Rocca in Pietrasantra.




No hurry any more.




From Montemagno looking north.



Fiume Serchio.




Entering the medieval city Lucca via Porta San Donato.




Lucca, the city of 'Torres'.




Giacomo Puccini sitting (the museum behind was closed due to renovations).




Time for a beer in the Piazza Anfiteatro in Lucca.




Arrivederci Lucca, Porta Elisa.




Flowermarket in Altopascio.




A medieval road.




Sheep.




Important places?




Roma is our goal now.




Looking for help finding a 'dormir'.




Morning coffee and a croissant.




The church in Pancole.




With a manger in the basement.




Gimignano.




Lilacs in full bloom.




Poppy-flowers.




Monteriggioni - used partly for making the film Gladiator.




Drum exercise in the backyard for the medieval week in Monteriggioni.




Pilgrim dinner.




La Chiocciola in Villa.




Entering Siena - Porta Camollia.




Tourist resting on Il Campo.




Duomo.





Duomo interior.




Nice paintjob!


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