The stretch of the Via Francigena from Piacenza to Fiorenzuola runs along a heavily trafficked truck route with no shoulder on the side of the road. It isn’t really walkable without endangering life and limb. I imagine Segeric, who in 990 CE traveled from Canterbury to Rome to collect his Pallium, did not encounter such a challenge. In fact, by all accounts, he rode a horse accompanied by an entourage of 100 acolytes, armed escorts and spiritual support staff whose job was to make his journey pleasant. Paula and I, on the other hand, have each other, the VF guidebook and MapOut GPS. So, we hitched a ride for the first 8 km to where the route veers off the main highway onto tertiary roads and gravel pathways.
It was still a grueling 24 km, under the hot sun without tree cover, but we were absorbed by listening to various podcasts including Brooke Gladstone’s fascinating On The Media report on the writers strike, the state of digital media and artificial intelligence as well as a 5 part series on the Digital Divide, about the rise and dominance of conservative talk radio. When we finally arrived at Fiorenzuola we were treated to, I kid you not, one of the best meals of our trip, prepared by Claudio and served by his brother Marco. We are sated, satisfied and sleepy. Tomorrow Fidenza.
No pictures tonight Weak signal
Walking the Via Francigena 
You’re making rapid progress through Emilia-Romagna, dove si mangia bene, I enjoy your commentary, which has the makings of a publishable tour guide. Be careful. Say no to truck routes.
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Will do Leo. These small towns in the Po valley are so well laid out, I think originally by the Romans, for human habitation. They are delightful. Thanks for your comments. They sustain us.
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Two or three pilgrimage posts overdue, but reading about your stop in Pavia, I was reminded that Vincent’s father went to medical school in that beautiful small city, and that years ago we stopped to see it and were enchanted by the place.
Hope that you’ll spend some time in Todi at the end of your trek and let your friends wine and dine you — and drink to the pleasure you’ve given us all.. Otherwise, let’s do another opera in NY this fall!
Love and thanks,
Jane
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We will be back in Todi July 25 for the month of August. Hope to see you then. Thanks for following!
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Gladly!
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So glad to hear that you arrived safely. And were then treated to an extraordinary meal, I hope you will give us the names of some of these wonderful hotels and restaurants so those of us who will have have the good fortune to be passing through these wonderful places will be able to enjoy similar delights. All the best to you both safe travels, ciao
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Full debrief promised on our return. Thanks for following!
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