Europe

How The Way of St. Francis (Via Francesco) Is Different From The Camino de Santiago

2 Comments / How Other Pilgrimages Compare To Camino, Italy, Via Francesco / February 14, 2023

Having walked a good many pilgrimages around the world, I would highly recommend the Via Francesco (Way of St. Francis) to pilgrims seeking a pilgrimage beyond the Camino de Santiago. Especially for Christians and those that feel a connection to St. Francis. Here is why: How The Way of St. Francis is Different From The …

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A Few Days In London Before Walking Scotland’s West Highland Way:

Leave a Comment / Hiking, UK / By / May 13, 2022

In the continuing effort to add content to this website, our 7 day walk on Scotland’s magnificent West Highland Way is next.     In late June of 2020, Mika and I spent the last 3 months hunkered down in Turkey. On March 21 we had set out on the ancient Lycian Way walk along …

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Starting The Camino in Lourdes Instead of St. Jean-Pied-de-Port

5 Comments / Camino Aragones, Camino de Santiago, Camino Frances, France, Which Camino Should I Walk? / By / February 12, 2022

Yesterday was the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes. For anyone considering a Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage here are 9 reasons why it is a wonderful starting point. While a high majority of pilgrims wanting to do the Camino de Santiago for a month or longer choose St. Jean Pied-de-Port (SJPP) as a starting …

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Via Francesco Day 15 Assisi to Train for Rome

7 Comments / Italy, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / January 28, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Day 101: It seems sometimes that Caminos have a spirit of their own and walking from my hotel the 4k to the train station I saw the familiar comforting blue and yellow markings of Via Francesco realizing he is not done with me nor I with my pilgrimage. Arriving at …

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Via Francesco; Day 14 Assisi

4 Comments / Italy, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / January 26, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Day 100: A day in interesting, tranquil Assisi. Enjoying the eerily quiet holy town after the 2,240K pilgrimage from Canterbury. After the long journey, I am staying 2 nights in Assisi, and was fortunate to select Hotel Pallota, just a minute walk from the Piazza Commune. The hotel had a …

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Via Francesco Spello to Assisi Day 13

1 Comment / Hiking, Interesting Experiences, Italy, UK, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / January 24, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Day 99: Spello to Assisi: Left Spello early and kind Leonardo, my older host at cozy B&B Fratello Sole told me there is an easy way to the left and a hard way to the right up the mountain. I immediately thought, “I’m tired and after coming such a long …

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Via Francesco Days 11-12; Spoleto to Trevi to Spello

3 Comments / Hiking, Italy, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / January 21, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Days 97-98: Spoleto to Trevi to Spello: In Spoleto, stayed at B&B Villa Massaccesi where I was hosted by the very pilgrim friendly Emmanuela and her son Leonardo who woke up at 7 to make a delicious omelet of zucchini, ham, and cheese. Nice to have a conversation about the  …

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Via Francesco Day 9-10 Arrone to Macenano to Spoleto

2 Comments / Italy, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / January 21, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Day 96-97: Arrone to Macenano to Spoleto: Starting out I walked back to Church of Francesco and stopped in during Mass. Don Tomas was of course the priest. I wished I could thank him personally, but at least I left a thank you note at the Parish House.    Feel …

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Via Francesco Day 7 Poggio San Bustone to Piediluco

4 Comments / Italy, Via Francesco / By / January 16, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Day 94 Poggio San Bustone to Piediluco: Beautiful nature all day and an unexpected meeting with a local, Giovanni, just before Labro. He has walked many pilgrimages and encouraged me to complete all of Via Francesco and the southern Via Francigena from Rome to Santa Maria di Leuca. Yes why …

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Via Francesco Day 7.5 The Tree of St. Francis

5 Comments / Interesting Experiences, Italy, Special Moments on the Camino, Via Francesco / By / January 17, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Day 93 Faggio di San Francesco/The Tree of Saint Francis: Walking from Poggio San Bustone to Piediluco started out through the quiet red and gold forested countryside. There was a hard to find turn up an unusually steep narrow and winding rocky path two hundred meters where I reached the …

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Via Francesco Days 5-6; Poggio San Lorenzo to Rieti to Poggio San Bustone

4 Comments / Italy, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / January 14, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Days 91-92. Poggio San Lorenzo to Rieti to Poggio San Bustone: Beautiful fall scenery and perfect walking weather going through some gorgeous forests. Had a fun chat with 5 Austrians including one that works for the Catholic Church.  They are on their way to Rome to tell Pope Francis he …

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Via Francesco Day 1-4 Rome to Poggio San Lorenzo

2 Comments / Italy, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / January 12, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Days 87-90: Feeling at peace 4 days onto Via Francesco. The vibes are different on this pilgrimage versus the Via Francigena. Perhaps it is the beautiful fall weather or how quiet it has been.  Walking through Tuscany was beautiful but a bit crowded relatively. Somehow the gentle and kind ways …

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Via Francesco-Rome to Assisi. A Last Minute Decision

3 Comments / Italy, Pilgrim Encounters, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / January 10, 2022

A Pilgrimage from November, 2019. I will be posting that journey over the next two weeks. —————– After walking the Via Francigena Canterbury, England to Rome Pilgrimage over 86 days you would think it was time to take a break. However, my partner, Mika just departed for her home in Japan I am alone. While …

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HOW THE VIA FRANCIGENA CANTERBURY TO ROME PILGRIMAGE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO.

2 Comments / Beautiful Scenery, Food, France, How Other Pilgrimages Compare To Camino, Italy, Switzerland, Via Francigena, Which Camino Should I Walk? / By / January 23, 2022

This is one pilgrim’s perspective from a single pilgrimage ending in October and biased. However it will hopefully provide future pilgrims and Camino de Santiago veterans a sense of what to expect on Via Francigena (VF). 1. Longer Distance and Time: Of course the length is variable depending upon where one starts but the full …

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VIA FRANCESCO-Day 1 Connecting with San Benoit.

2 Comments / Europe, Global Pilgrimages, Interesting Experiences, Italy, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / January 11, 2022

Canterbury to Rome to Assisi Day 87 For me one certainty of walking a pilgrimage such as Via Francigena is that it will penetrate into one’s heart and soul, becoming a dear friend sooner or later. One just needs to be patient. After feeling nothing special at St. Peter’s and The Vatican, I began the …

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VIA FRANCIGENA- In Rome (Pizza)

Leave a Comment / Europe, Food, Global Pilgrimages, Italy, Via Francigena / By / December 6, 2021

Canterbury to Rome- In Rome I have to speak up about this. A few days ago I was looking for a pizza in Bolsena and reading this menu noticed an American pizza. I thought, “Sausage or Pepperoni” and had to laugh when I read it was hot dog and french fries! I’m American and never …

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VIA FRANCIGENA-In Rome

Leave a Comment / Camino de Santiago, Europe, Global Pilgrimages, Italy, Via Francesco, Via Francigena / By / December 6, 2021

In Rome October 27, 2020: This morning I was wondering how to get some information on Via de Francesco to Assisi which I plan to start Thursday or Friday. Then “coincidentally” bumped into Noëlle Dav from Holland in St. Peter’s Square who just completed 3,000K from Holland to Rome via Assisi. One more example of …

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VIA FRANCIGENA-Canterbury to Rome Day 86 ROME October 22, 2020

Leave a Comment / Europe, Global Pilgrimages, Italy, Via Francigena / By / December 6, 2021

Day 86 La Storta to Rome: A few people commented on avoiding the urban walk the last day but I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Yes, about half was urban but the other half was through a Nature Reserve and then over Monte Mario providing spectacular view of Rome below for pilgrims walking here …

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VIA FRANCIGENA-Canterbury to Rome Days 84-85

Leave a Comment / Europe, Global Pilgrimages, Italy, Via Francigena / By / December 6, 2021

Days 84-85-Sutri to Campagnano di Roma to La Storta: Sunrise on the church and Roman amphitheater make for a good start to the day. ——— Though we are now just 20K from Rome surprisingly most of the walk the past 2 days was in nature. And as it turns out yesterday and today as well …

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VIA FRANCIGENA-Canterbury to Rome Days 82-83

Leave a Comment / Europe, Global Pilgrimages, Italy, Via Francigena / By / December 6, 2021

Days 82-83: Viterbo to Vetralla to Sutri. Just outside Viterbo the walk is interesting walking through the tunnel. Interesting couple of days as we grow ever near to the Vatican. How different this last 100K is to the Camino de Santiago where at times you can see 100 or more other pilgrims. Here it has …

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