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