The Via Francigena has delighted us in its warmth, with recent days bringing us friendships.
Elena (in top photo) and her mother welcomed us to their 14th-century hilltop farm home and agriturismo with personal charm, a spacious apartment, and scrumptious meals.
We had dinner and trailside conversation with Renate and Herbert from The Netherlands, promising to reconnect in Rome. And we said goodbye (for now) to Luca, who is on his way home in northern Italy to resume his studies.
Meanwhile, we pause in Acquapendante today for a breather, leaving just eight days to Rome. And we hear we may be just in time for a big announcement when we show our pilgrim passports (filled with ink stamps documenting our journey) and collect our certificates in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Books and my backpack 
What a heartwarming post — the spirit of the Via Francigena truly comes alive through your words! It’s wonderful to see how this journey is as much about the people as it is about the path itself. From Elena’s generous hospitality to the shared stories with fellow pilgrims like Renate, Herbert, and Luca, it sounds like each encounter has added a special layer to your pilgrimage. Wishing you a peaceful rest in Acquapendente and a beautiful final stretch to Rome — what an incredible moment it will be to receive your certificate at St. Peter’s!
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I appreciate your comments very much!
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Sound like good folks, Reg. The new Pope being named when you arrive in Rome would be a great way to wrap up your journey!
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