Via Francigena
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Second stage: Lunigiana – Val d’Orcia
The Via Francigena was an ancient road and pilgrim route running from France to Rome and Apulia, eventually reaching the ports of embarkation for the Holy Land.
Heading South from the Ligurian-Tuscan border, the long and orderly rows of cypresses lead to the lands of Siena, perhaps entering the most evocative stretch of the Via Francigena.
The panorama immediately offers the quaint view of the village of San Gimignano, which stands out with its towers and, together with the red ochre shades of the surrounding landscape, projects travellers into a medieval-like setting. In Val d’Elsa, there’s the splendid Romanesque Abbey of Coneo, the hill named after the valley and the beautiful hamlet of Monteriggioni which dates back to the Middle Ages – it is still surrounded by an imposing and intact walled enclosure.
Going past Siena, always heading South, the rolling hills of the Val d’Arbia and the famous “Crete Senesi” welcome the visitors: right there the history of the Via Francigena comes to life with many ancient buildings created to offer assistance and services to the travellers, including the hospital of Santa Maria della Scala in Siena. Further down the road, there’s the splendid historic centre of Buonconvento, located in the heart of the “Crete Senesi”; finally, Val d’Orcia will reveal its “green cotton” hills and stretch to Bagno Vignoni, an authentic pearl on this legendary route.
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Italiano (Italian)
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