The via Francigena runs from Canterbury to Rome |
Map of our route from Aosta to Rome |
Aosta was founded in 25 BC. The Roman core of the city has well preserved walls, gates and bridges. This is the view from our hotel room |
Fenis Castle - the Aosta Valley is known as the "Valley of the Castles". There is a series of castles, all within sight of the next, along the Aosta Valley |
View back up the Aosta Valley |
Ruins of the Roman Bridge outside St Vincent |
The isolated church of St Germain, lower Aosta Valley. La via Francigena, as an important pilgrim route in the middle ages features many churches of various architectural styles |
Walking the Roman Road into Donnas |
Chariot wheel tracks in the Roman Road |
The "Pont" (Bridge) of Pont St Martin |
Grape trellis on the side of the lower Aosta Valley |
A ruined castle above Settimo Vittone |
The via Francigena below grape vines |
Church at Normalgio |
Another church at Ivrea |
The Cemetery outside a town |
Church somewhere |
Rice paddies outside Vercelli |
Church at Palestro |
Robbio - meeting with Ermanno Gardinali He wrote the book "La via Francigena in Lomellina" and helped us find the way |
Inside ancient chapel at Robbio |
The outside of ancient chapel at Robbio |
Church at Mortara |
Covered bridge at Pavia |
Church at Pavia |
Via Francigena sign to cross the River Po |
River Po ferry from Corte San Andrea to Calendasco |
Calendasco with tomato fields |
Outskirts of Castelnuovo Fogliani |
Church door at Castelnuovo Fogliani |
Villa at Fornio |
Poppies outside Fidenza - Whoops, forgot to suck in the gut! |
Sculpture on the outside of Fidenza Cathedral |
Sculpture on the outside of Fidenza Cathedral |
Fidenza Municipio |
La via Francigena under a train tunnel beside a canal outside Fornovo di Taro |
Parma Province is well sign posted |
Roadside carving depicting a pilgrim at Bardone |
Castello de Casola |
Roadside carving of a pilgrim outside Castello de Casola |
La via Francigena |
Church at Berceto |
The cobbled streets of Berceto |
Gravagna is two villages - the "upper" and the "lower" |
Napoleonic bridge at Mignegno |
Pontremoli - bell tower |
Pontremoli - a beautiful town |
Bridge at Villafranca in Lunigiana |
The city walls of Sarzana |
Monastry at Pietrasanta |
In the town of Pietrasanta |
Church at Camaiore |
City walls at Lucca |
Church at Lucca |
Lucca streets |
Church at Lucca |
Wall and gate at Altopascio |
Winery at Castelfiorentino |
Church at Castelfiorentino |
Procession for Saint Verdiana at Castelfiorentino |
Church at Colano |
Countryside near Gambassi Terme |
Church outside Gambassi Terme |
Gambassi Terme |
Church at Pancole |
The medieval towers of San Gimignano |
Street in San Gimignano |
Typical Tuscany outside San Gimignano |
Tuscan vinyards |
Looking back at San Gimignano |
Church at di Badia a Coneo |
Decaying church outside Quartaia |
Monumental fountain outside Quartaia - note the 3 different arches |
Colle di Val d Elsa |
Ancient bridge of Colle di Val d Elsa |
Entrance to Colle di Val d Elsa |
Colle di Val d Elsa at dawn |
Footpath to Strove |
Strove - via Francigena waymark in this area |
Walled town of Moneriggioni |
Castle at la Chicciola |
Sienna |
Church at Sienna |
Gothic cathedral at Sienna |
Countryside near Quinciano |
Church at Quinciano |
Church at Buonconvento |
Church at San Quirico d Orcia |
Streets of San Quirico d Orcia |
Church sculpture at San Quirico d Orcia |
Streets of San Quirico d Orcia |
Medieval procession at San Quirico d Orcia |
All that remains of Vignoni castle - now a house |
Ripa d Orcia from the distance |
The thermal baths at Bagno Vignoni in use since Roman times |
Classic Tuscany |
Entrance to Abbadia San Salvatore |
Crypt inside church at Abbadia San Salvatore |
Castle at Piancastagnalo |
All roads lead to Rome? |
Aquapendente |
San Lorenzo Nuovo - unusual octagonal town square |
The path near Lake Bolsena |
The wildflowers around Lake Bolsena |
Crater lake - Lake Bolsena |
Bolsena castle |
A view of the lake from Bolsena |
The houses of Bolsena are adorned with flower pots, each one different |
Bolsena church |
Montefiascone |
Dome of the Church of Santa Margherita at Montefiascone |
Another view of the dome |
A view of Lake Bolsena from Montefiascone |
Inside the Church of San Flaviano - Photo taken using available light from the room above |
Frescos inside the Church of San Flaviano |
Just outside Montefiascone lies several kilometers of Roman Road, still in use today by pilgrims, cars, buses and tractors |
Walking the Roman Road, a high point of the journey |
Roman Road, basalt, close up |
Italians taking the waters outside Virterbo |
The wildflowers walking into Virterbo |
Church at Virterbo - Interesting tower |
One of many ornate fountains at Virterbo |
Virterbo |
Within the Quartier Pelliigrino in Virterbo there is the most original medieval square in Italy |
La via Francigena from Capranica |
The Porta (gate) Franceta into Sutri |
Sutri |
Sutri - main square |
Amphitheatre at Sutri, probably dating from 1st century BC, cut from solid tufa |
Amphitheatre at Sutri |
Amphitheatre at Sutri from the inside |
Sutri - necropolis near the amphitheatre |
Sutri - medieval burial chamber |
Sutri - crypt |
Church at Monterosi Note the grass growing on the dome |
Monterosi In this region, on a special Sunday each year, designs sketched on the roads are filled with flower petals and leaves to produce these "paintings" |
Arriving at Campagnano di Roma. The festival is over - soon the designs will be swept away |
Campagnano di Roma - bell tower |
A couple observing the street - Campagnano di Roma |
Campagnano di Roma - Is it the best pizza, anywhere? Certainly the biggest we have seen |
St Peters, Rome Finally! |
The Vatican |
The Vatican |
Rome - Pantheon |
Trevi Fountain |
Something in Rome |
Something else in Rome |
The Colosseum |
Rome |
Rome |
Rome |
Pilgrims Passport - a record of our journey |
Testimonium received from Father Bruno at the Vicariato in the Vatican City We were numbers 142 and 143 to register in the Register of Via Francigena |