A walk along the Via Francigena. This year we're trying something different – instead of following one of the many paths to Santiago de Compostela we are setting out on a medieval pilgrim route that leads from Canterbury to Rome. The way starts in the English cathedral city of Canterbury and passes through England, France, Switzerland and Italy. Its name "Via Francigena" is Italian and means the "road that comes from France". In the Middle Ages it was the main pilgrimage route from the north for pilgrims on the way to the Holy See and the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul. It is a distance of about 1900km and is still much less walked than the well-known routes to Santiago. There is also less pilgrim accommodation so the plan is to camp whenever possible. 2019 – we will be starting in Aosta where we finished last year and there are about 950 km / 600 miles left to walk to Rome. No tents this time as campsites are few and far between!

Canterbury. We are all now well met.

Canterbury. A quite nice town well looked after. A bit like Santiago de Compostela and for the same reasons it has not lacked for cash for repairs.
We visit the cathedral to get our credential and can get in free as pilgrims. But pay anyway. There are an aweful lot of repairs being done it seems fair.
In the grounds there is a plane tree with a viral infection. Plantanusxhispanica.
The cathedral is in full flood of renovation but even so the sense of age comes through especially in the crypt. There are quantities of excellent detailed stone work and some of theost beautiful stained glass windows I have seen. There are a number of friendly guide people who know a lot about the place including stories of the 5 murdered archbishops. Yes there were more just Thomas a Becket.

Link to where we are on Google Maps