2023 Monday Oct. 16

Colle Val D'Elsa to Monteriggioni

Click to view today’s video: https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8gP32QNq

Although a relatively short day, it proved to be a challenge. We dropped our packs at the hotel outside Monteriggioni and then walked to the hilltop. Luckily the hotel keep came to pick us up and return us to the hotel for a wonderful dinner.

 

The shady forests are a respite from the heat, but the rocky surfaces make slow going.

 

There are several small villages along country roads, but no services for pilgrims.

 

Finally we reach the small village (population 10) of Abbadia d’Isola. A monastery dedicated to San Salvatore was founded in 1001 and a pilgrim hospital cared for Via Francigena travelers as early as 1050. Today’s church was consecrated in 1173. Many of the buildings have become farm buildings, but there is a pilgrim hostel.

 

The altarpiece of Abbadia d’Isola’s Church of San Cirino is a 15th c. Polyptych painted by Sano di Pierrot of Siena.

 

The baptistry font dates from 1419.

 

Our hotel for the evening.

 

The hotel building with our rooms overlooks a swimming pool and a sweeping vista.

 

Our dinner at the hotel with friends Frank, Trish, and Jenny.

Comments:

Julia Holman: Population 10!? How cool is that? So that whole area was where you stayed? When you guys are on that rocky hiking path, would that be the ancient road that was used? 2023/10/18 at 2:45 pm

Reply: I think many folks work in the town but leave in the evening. There were a very few places to stay, and restaurants, but we were better being outside town. The town was a hideout during wars between Siena and Florence. For years before the unification of Italy, Monteriggioni sometimes was a fortress to protect fighters. I don’t know who else might have used the roads, but many of them follow the standard Roman procedures. 2023/10/18 at 7:21 pm

Julia Holman: Can I just say….I love the re-live video’s paired with the journal. I get both perspectives on your journey. So cool! 2023/10/18 at 2:50 pm

Reply: Daddy does a great job on the Relive videos and it is nice to blend our styles. Glad you like it. 2023/10/18 at 7:22 pm

Unknown: 1400’s??? Man that’s miraculous these things are still there. 2023/10/18 at 4:50 pm

Reply: I’m not sure who might have posted, since it defaulted to Richard, but the history of this area is so much greater than we understand in America! (Please add your information when posting so we’ll know who is reading the blog). 2023/10/18 at 7:24 pm

Dan Hendry: The trails look different from those in Spain. Are these a bit more challenging? And is it easier or harder to find your path to the next stop on this journey? 2023/10/18 at 6:35 pm

Reply: The trails do seem a bit different so far and we are generally slone all day. The signage is better than we expected, so in conjunction with the app showing our location in relation to the trail, we have been doing fine. The best information came from our friends Steve and David who walked the trail last year: make sure you walk on the same side of the road with the signage. That has definitely saved us as sometimes the road branches where it might be difficult to cross the road. Of course, any of this can change as our situation changes. Tomorrow our beautiful weather changes and we have rain to negotiate. 2023/10/18 at 7:33 pm