2023 Thursday Nov. 2

Campagnano di Roma to La Storta

Here is today’s Relive video:  https://www.relive.cc/view/v7O9Joo79L6

We started out in the morning with a pretty lean breakfast from the bar, and no real idea how hard the day would be. It was long with lots of climbing and only a few snacks.

 

It’s not a good sign when you start out with steps. This was the beginning of a long climb.

 

In case one forgets that they’re walking the Via Francigena, we’re seeing signs of the cross posted along the trail. They’re simple, but the message comes across.

 

On Day 21, we met Gianni outside Vetralla where he was collecting chestnuts by the roadside. He wanted to share with us but we had to refuse because of weight. When he found out we were walking the Via Francigena, he proudly told us about his daughter, Marta, who lived closer to Rome and worked in the Etruscan Museum. He was so proud and joyous, we hoped to find his daughter.

 

Here on Day 25, we found the Etruscan Museum and Marta was at the front desk. She was very surprised to hear our tale, and that her father had communicated her story to us! She shares her father’s big smile and welcoming nature.

 

The Etruscan Museum is in a palace on the site of a Medieval building. Sadly, we knew we did not have time to visit the museum. The palace also houses a library and a pilgrim hostel.

 

The palace’s tower stairs honor the stages of the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome. Each step has a city stage name etched in the glass. At the top (Rome), there is a viewing area where you can look on the Rome hills and suburbs.

 

The trails varied but thankfully there was not a lot of walking along roads until the end of the day.

 

We took an alternate route meant to save time, but it proved to take longer since the trails were not always well maintained. This section was one of the nicer areas.

 

Near the end of our alternate route, we happened on to some older caves. Richard went exploring.

 

This is the last pleasant sight before we headed into city rush hour roadside drudgery. The waterfall is next to an old mill site in the archeological park.

 

Comments:

Unknown: I love that you met his daughter!! 2023/11/05 at 12:57 am

Wendy Hendry: Looks like one of your prettier walks! Hope you didn’t run into any bats on cave adventures! 2023/11/06 at 8:41 pm

Reply: No bats. The walk was solitary and not touristy but interesting to realize much of it was an Etruscan settlement that predates the Roman Empire. 2023/11/07 at 5:45 am

Wanda Penner: What a wonderful connection. 2023/11/07 at 3:59 am

Reply: This was one of the real gifts from our walk—the connections with people. Who would have thought that a two-minute conversation wondering would give so many of us joy? Marta, who speaks excellent English, was so surprised when we told her the story, and was amazed that her father could communicate with us. 2023/11/07 at 6:57 am