Via Francigena - Itinerary: The Via Francigena was an ancient route once used by medieval pilgrims and other travellers on their way from Canterbury to Rome. Throughout the ages, merchants, armies and members of the clergy traveled back and forth between Northern Europe and Rome carrying goods, money and information. The route is now once again being recognized as an essential part of Europe’s history and reminders of its past are still to be found along its course. The Via Francigena … [Read more...]
The Via Francigena – Classic Walks
December 2, 2010 by
Via Francigena: A Classic pilgrimage trail through Europe: The Via Francigena is one of the most interesting walks in Europe. This walk takes you along one of the most historic and longest pilgrimage paths. The Way begins in Canterbury and makes its way to Dover. A ferry takes the walker to Calais, where the land journey resumes. Across France to Switzerland. Then down to Lake Leman and along the Rhone Valley, up to the Alps and down to Aosta in Italy. Along the Italian peninsula, before … [Read more...]
Assisi and St Clare
October 6, 2010 by
A brief detour from the Via Francigena, the 2000 km pilgrim path which joins Canterbury to Rome. We had arrived in Assisi, the home of St Francis, Italy’s patron saint, and checked into St Anthony’s Guest House. St. Anthony’s was well designed for pilgrims and travelers; a coffee machine, white and red wine in the fridge, a library, laundry and a large garden, often visited by melodious birds. Over lunch we met Peter, a Marist Brother and a headmaster of a Catholic school in Brisbane, … [Read more...]
The second most visited church in Italy
September 6, 2010 by
Assisi's Basilica San Francesco: We had been walking around the fabulous ancient hill-top town of Assisi as part of our journey along the Via Francigena. We followed the cobble-stoned road up to Piazza S. Francesco and entered the Lower Church of the Basilica San Francesco, the numero uno site in Assisi. This basilica ranked as the second most visited church after St. Peter’s in Rome. Leaders of the world's religions meet here for summits. The Basilica was built on the site where … [Read more...]
Travel Europe – meet a guidebook writer & Charlie Chaplin
August 31, 2010 by
Lausanne, Switzerland. On the Via Francigena When on the Via Francigena, there are precious few opportunities that come your way in regards to being ferried about instead of walking. Such an opportunity arose in travelling from Lausanne to Vevey - by ferry. In the morning, with the bright sun beaming in the sky, we walked down to the wharves at Ouchy past a metal fountain with the heads of three horses drinking. Finding the tourist office we booked two seats on one of the classic lake … [Read more...]
Via Francigena – Montefiascone and a legend
June 25, 2010 by
We were on the Via francigena and had arrived in the small Italian city of Montefiascone, built on an old volcanic ridge, a wonderful place to rest after the walk from Bolsena. We walked up the main road to a secondary winding road that led to the very top of the volcanic rim and to the remains of the Rocca de Papes, the Papal Palace. The view from the ramparts was magnificent. I could just see San Lorenzo Nuevo on the far shores of Lake Bolsena. There was an antiques market in the Papal … [Read more...]
Via Francigena: Rome's seven pilgrim churches
March 11, 2010 by
St. Paul's Outside the WallsVia Francigena: Rome, Italy. The Seven Pilgrim Churches San Pietro, Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, San Sebastiano fuora la Mura, San Paolo fuora la Mura, Santa Maria Trastevere. Pilgrims throughout the ages have walked to or visited the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome as have popes, several saints and many members of the nobility. As Rome was founded on her seven hills, so her Christian foundations rested on these seven … [Read more...]
Via Francigena: Martigny to Orsieres
March 8, 2010 by
Suddenly the mists parted, revealing the valleyVia Francigena: Martigny, Switzerland. After a filling breakfast we donned our packs and walked out into the wet, overcast weather which was rather pleasant after the past few hot days. We arrived at a park where there was a fork in the track. Decisions. Decisions. One track zig-zagged up a huge ridge, the other along the base of the ridge. The map suggested following the lower track. We asked a group of walkers the best way to Sembrancher and … [Read more...]
Passion Relics from Jerusalem
December 13, 2009 by
Via Francigena: Rome: Refreshed after a Roman lunch, we continued to Holy Cross in Jerusalem (Santa Croce in Gerusalemme). The church was high on every pilgrim’s itinerary and its present name was given to it during medieval times. In 325 an old Roman palace was consecrated as a church to house the Passion Relics that Helena had brought back from Jerusalem and soil from the Holy Land was used to pack its floor. The present basilica was a large cavernous building with a chapel at either end … [Read more...]
Via Francigena – Canterbury Cathedral
November 24, 2009 by
Pilgrims outside Canterbury CathedralBeginning the Via Francigena: Although still 1900 kilometers from Rome, the legacy of the ancient Romans was not hard to find in Canterbury especially if you visited the Roman Museum in Butchery Lane which encourages visitors to explore the subterranean remains of Roman Canterbury. The Romans had built 6000 miles of roads in Britannia and we would soon walk along some twenty miles of them to reach Dover . . Our first duty as pilgrims was to visit the great … [Read more...]
