Via Francigena: Photos

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

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

Strada Statale (main road)
Medieval pilgrims were threatened by bandits and wolves.
Today they are in danger of traffic speeding along the SS.
Nowhere to walk except the white line.
This truck had moved over because nothing was approaching from the other direction

Entrance to Abbadia San Salvatore

Crypt inside church at Abbadia San Salvatore

Castle at Piancastagnalo

Outside Aquapendente the road crosses the River Paglia.
This bridge was built in 1578 and has been used continuously since.
You can see how it has been modified over the years, starting with stone, then brick, now concrete

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

The Church of San Flaviano at Montefiascone, one of the most interesting Romanesque structures in Latium
It is constructed on two levels, with the more recent above and behind, allowing light to spill into the lower floor

Inside the Church of San Flaviano - Photo taken using available light from the room above

Frescos inside the Church of San Flaviano

Est! Est!! Est!!! The local white wine from here is called Est! Est!! Est!!!
According to legend a monk on his travels wrote Est, meaning "it is" in Latin,
to indicate the place where the wine was good. Here he wrote Est! Est!! Est!!!
We agree!!!

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"