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!
To the cathedral in Aosta for a last tampon/stamp in pilgrim passport.
Pleasantly down past a parish church dedicated to our hero St.Roche patron saint of pilgrims and plague! To catch the bus back up to St Bernard, a final beer while waiting for the bus from the Swiss side. On time of course, and over to Ostiers and then train down to the good campsite in Martigny. Tomorrow a train and flight home from Geneva.
The cathedral in Aosta has an impressive front door and lots of paintings inside.