Friday, May 12, 2006

Introducing the Via Francigena Five



Here begins the Journey
Now begins the Day.
With one step upon the Road
Our Souls are on the Way.

The Via Francigena Five” will soon be on their way.



WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
To Switzerland & Italy to walk the Via Francigena – the old pilgrimage road to Rome.


They start walking on Lake Geneva on Friday 16th June and will walk ± 210kms - 4 days crossing the Swiss Alps at the Grand St Bernard Pass (where the famous dogs are kept) and then 4 days in the Italian Alps, through the Aosta Valley as far as Ivrea.

On 24th June they will get a train from Ivrea to Parma and then walk for two days, over the Cisa Pass as far as Pontremoli. Another train will take them to Lucca in the north of Tuscany and from there they will walk ± 360kms to Rome, arriving at St Peter’s Square on Thursday 13th July.


♦ They will carry everything they need for 28 days of walking in their backpacks (± 6kgs)
♦ They will wear boots and/or hiking sandals depending on cross country paths or tarred roads.
♦ The longest distance will be ± 32kms and the shortest 14kms.
♦ They will stay in pensions, backpackers, a Gité, youth hostels, B&Bs, monasteries, a convent, camp site dorm, a castle, on a farm, small hotels and apartments. (Most of these were booked in advance.)
♦ Their journey begins on 14th June and they return on Monday 17th July.

You can send them messages/encouragement/questions on this Blogger.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

“To walk is by a thought to go; to move in spirit to and fro;
To mind the good we see; to taste the sweet;
Observing all the things we meet
How choice and rich they be.”
by Thomas Traherne

Anonymous said...

Good luck ladies - and although its a little ironic coming from me, break a leg!! :)

-Mark

Anonymous said...

To the FABULOUS Francigena Five - Stai propio bene! Best wishes from the indomitable duo Marita and Fiorenza on the camino to Santiago. See us on http://fiorita.blogspot.com

Ciao!

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is quite the CHALLENGE! Val what can I say - you AMAZE me! Where do you get the energy and this after the conference?! Well all I can say is good luck ladies, enjoy and be safe! Will think of you and leave comments along the way!
Lots of love
Christel :)

Anonymous said...

My prayers thoughts and best wishes will be with all of you especially, Val on this big walk.

Enjoy from Veronica (Homenet Real Estate)

santiago's walk said...

it's a pleasure for me informe you about the existence of a
"alternative" section of the Walk of Santiago in its 16.ma stage:
THE ORIGINAL FRENCH'S WALK OF ST. JACQUES (Carrion de los Condes - Sahagun
troutgh Villada)
All informations about it can you find in our web: www.acaminosantiagovillada.

I am grateful to you in before for your collaboration to add this section
in yours maps and to inform other company or organization of the Walk ,with
them you can mantein contact , about it existence.

If the pilgrims wish sleep in a old castillian manor during the walk , we propose you a
only manor hotel in Castilla y Leon : www.elsenorio.es

Bests Regards

Sandro Boniolo
Consultant of Associacion Antiguo Camino Frances de Santiago
E - 34340 Villada