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!

Bagni San Filippo to Ponte a Rigo 23k The castle on the hill

We start out with blue skies and sunshine and begin the 400 metre ascent to Radicofani. The tower on the top looks more and more like a castle from a chess set as we approach the town.
The countryside is changing, becoming wilder and with occasional flocks of sheep.
Radicofani is another town consisting of one long street which we walk down admiring the dark stoned houses. A brisk climb brings us up to the massive castle tower with views in all directions.
We see no other pelegrinos all day although for an excited Italian cyclist doing the Via Francigena, who embraces Ray like a long lost cousin in the main square.
After a ham and cheese sandwich in a square named after a famous bandit who terrorised the pilgrims from the safety of the castle, we begin the long descent down a ridge with more splendid views in all directions.
Ponte a Rigo consists of a bridge, a bar and a church with an attached Ostello where we will stay tonight.