Tag: Italian
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The Way of St. Francis: Michelangelo is our host
Rome is a great place to be as we miss the daily adventures of the Way of St. Francis. We returned to Vatican City Friday for a nighttime visit to the Vatican Museums, where we marveled at Michelangelo’s genius in the Sistine Chapel for an hour. Perhaps we had not cleaned up well enough after…
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The Way of St. Francis: Reflections from our journey
We were rewarded with our testimonium Friday at the Vatican. Our bodies are happy we reached the end of the Way of St. Francis. Our minds are swirling as we reflect. The numbers from our trek: 23 days walking, 258 miles (415 km) afoot, 79,923 feet of elevation. Toughest trek yet: What made it more…
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The Way of St. Francis: Surprises lead our way
A castle tower caught our eye today, but this sculpture made us wonder why it was standing in this trailside field. Intermittent showers followed us Tuesday on the Way of St. Francis from Montelibretti to Monterotondo, a busy city of 41,000 that makes us feel like we leaped forward hundreds of years. It is how…
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The Way of St. Francis: A deserted pilgrimage
The red line has led us through trials and celebrations, more medieval villages than we can count, and memorable meetings with gracious Italians brimming with enthusiasm. We have met friendly and fascinating fellow trekkers, but many days we have not seen even one. We have yet to meet another American walker. We have not talked…
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The Way of St. Francis: Pizza, pizza, pizza!
Local Italian culture filled the tiny Pizzeria da Paldo next door to our B&B Thursday night in Rieti. We thought we ordered four pieces of pizza and a salad, but the enthusiastic man behind the counter served up a platter double-stacked with four kinds of pizza and a big plate of ensalada mista. We ate…
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The Way of St. Francis: Italy at its best
As I sipped coffee at a bar in Poggio Bustone Wednesday afternoon, Sue wandered down the road a few doors and returned with a dinner invitation. The fellow in the white t-shirt runs the La Laconda Francescana Ristorante and hostel, where he later served us a delicious two-course meal with more wine than we could drink…
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The Way of St. Francis: It was going so well
Our Sunday began shortly after 8 a.m. when we departed our Spoleto apartment for a detour from the usual Way of St. Francis. A 2016 earthquake left the Roman acqueduct unsafe to cross (actually, Sue was relieved she didn’t have to cross the narrow walkway over a deep gorge), so we went downhill and…
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The Way of St. Francis: Escalators to history
History is written all over Spoleto and our apartment is within the medieval Umbrian city center. We took a day away from the Way of St. Francis to explore an area where civilization dates to the bronze age. An aqueduct and theater helped emperors strengthen their control in Umbria. Popes extended their influence here…
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The Way of St. Francis: What is it like?
What is the Way of St. Francis like? After 117 miles in Italy, we have walked on busy highways, country roads, city streets, forest roads, paved farm roads, gravel farm roads, a long levee and wide gravel paths. We have sometimes had to walk on busy roads because there has been no shoulder. Drivers here…
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