One of the best viewing placesWe were in Siena on the Via Francigena heading towards Rome. Hungry after the day’s activities, we enjoyed dinner in the hotel’s restaurant where we met Nick and Izaskum. . They had just returned from Rome and Nick suggested, that when we got to Rome, to walk up the Aventine Hill and look through a keyhole. This sounded suitably mysterious, so I made a note to do exactly that when we arrived in Rome. . Some days later we arrived in Rome and began our goggle-eyed … [Read more...]
Rome- the terminus of Via Francigena
July 7, 2009 by
walking into Rome after a 2000 km journey..... Imperial and Christian RomeOne leaves a city alone for 2000 years and what happens. It becomes a ruin. I'm talking about Rome of course. Our journey- the Via Francigena, part walking, part public transport began 2000 km away in Canterbury, England. Crossing the Alps was fantastic - via St Bernard's Pass. The day before we arrived in Rome we had overnighted in Capranica. The next morning we boarded a bus to visit Veio, the ancient Etruscan capital … [Read more...]
The Stone Mouth
June 26, 2009 by
Across from a small park that contained the old Roman Tempio di Vesta, originally dedicated to the conquering god, Hercules Victor, was the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin which had attracted a line of people. We had arrived in Rome after a lengthy journey along parts of the Via Francigena. Carol had decided to have a relaxing morning and I wanted to visit a number of churches. Curiosity prompted me to join the line. I soon saw what people had lined up for, the famous Mouth of Truth - (Bocca … [Read more...]
St Bernard Pass – gateway throughout the ages
May 25, 2009 by
From Martigny in Switzerland (along the Via Francigena) we struggled over the hardy obstacle of a mountain ridge. Because a flood two weeks before had washed away the walking track and the railway track - both of which followed the river. We had planned to walk from Martigny to Orsieres that day, mostly along the Dranse Valley, but now we had to reluctantly detour over this ridge. What a pain. Sometimes when travelling, especially by foot, it's difficult to accept some quick unplanned … [Read more...]
To visit a castle – sometimes take a bus
April 30, 2009 by
What a lavish breakfast at Hotel Helvetie in Montreaux, Switzerland. We were journeying along the ancient Via Francigena, the path that stretches all the way from Canterbury to Rome. After breakfast we decided to take the local bus four kilometers to Chillon Castle which lay on the lake’s (Leman) edge and came face to face with hundreds of other tourists who had come to visit one of the best preserved medieval castles in Europe. The castle was impressive, full of rooms containing … [Read more...]
A side trip to Assisi
April 16, 2009 by
We were walking sections of the Via Francigena when we decided to visit the hilltop city of Assisi. I had heard and read about it for years. We ended spending four days here, mostly walking. Because it is situated on a hill (the foothill of the large Mount Subasio) we got a lot of exercise in. Over the period of four days the medieval delights of old Roman Assisium presented themselves. a range of churches, the Rocca, monasteries and cobbled laneways. Our accommodation was in a renovated … [Read more...]
