15th July 2017

15th July 2017

Radicofani to Aquapendente - 25kms

Beautiful walk today again starting at 4:30am. For the first time in many days we did not have to climb first thing in the morning. From Radicofani we took the old Via Cassia (Roman road) which meandered along the countryside winding downwards all the time for nearly 10 kms. Watching the sun rise over the hills was magical and the light gave an ethereal feel to the whole panorama. Beautiful!

We were heading for Ponte a Rigo, where we knew there would 3 a bar where we could have our breakfast. Just before getting there we met Alberto. He is a Via Francígena volunteer and was clearing the path of weeds so that the markings could be clearly seen. Nice man and was very interested in what we were doing.

After breakfast of two coffees and a couple of brioches we were on our way again. At this point we had the option of taking a shorter route which cut 6.5kms off the longer one. Guess which one we took? You got it in one!

Five kms later we arrived in Centeno, with the promise of another bar. Although it was still early the sun was beating down already. Sadly the bar was closed. We did however come across Piero, who owns a local B&B and who invited us to his house and offered us nice cool lemonade! There are still a lot of nice people in the world.

We carried on and stopped at a roadside cafe at the base of Acquapendente. Soon after we were joined by three young Danish siblings, also doing the Via Francígena from Sienna to Rome, and three other pilgrims, one at least from Plymouth! 

The path to Acquapendente was a very steep hill which went on for longer than we would have liked but finally we arrived seven hours after setting off this morning. Another kilometre, also uphill, brought us to the Associazone Casa di Lazzaro, where we are spending the night. They provide beds, dinner and breakfast all for a donation. 

Tomorrow we head for Bolsena. Rome gets nearer and nearer!