Tuscany - On the Via Francigena

In the past week, I have had the pleasure of Italian hospitality twice and I am still happy about it when I think about it.

As soon as I reached the sign saying "Toscana", the whole landscape suddenly took on a different flair. Maybe I just didn't notice it so much before and now I paid more attention to the striking cypresses and the distinctive and typical houses.

My first day in Tuscany started in a small town where there is a natural thermal spring. Definitely not a bad start to take a warm bath in the morning! And since I was there early in the morning, I was almost alone.

In the evening of the same day, I reached a small village where I had actually planned to camp.

But my original plan of pitching my tent at a car park didn't work out so well when I got there. I found accommodation online and went to the address given. However, there was no sign there and it didn't look like accommodation either. So I met Caterina, who was sitting by the garden fence and I asked her about it. Since there was no accommodation, she offered me to pitch my tent in her garden.

In the end, I was even allowed to occupy her brother's room and enjoyed a shower as well as a very tasty dinner. We talked all evening and later her mum Paola joined us. It was a wonderful evening and such a wonderful encounter.

I had been walking on the Via Francigena since Rome and met pilgrims again and again along the way. My route led me through beautiful countryside on to Siena and there to a campsite just outside. Unfortunately, the rooster next door had a slightly different daily rhythm and made a lot of noise from half past five in the morning.

I had found a campsite for the following day, but in the evening before arriving I happened to see that it would not open for two days. Since the accommodation in the village would have been too expensive, I walked a little further and then turned off into the forest to find a place for the night. However, I didn't find a really good spot and finally came out above in a smaller village. There I saw a man working in the garden and asked if I could pitch my tent in the meadow a little below. I was immediately offered to set up my tent in their garden. Marco, Romina and Giulia also invited me to dinner and I was very happy about the nice get-together and the good food.

The next day I arrived in Florence and also took a day's break there, which I actually needed. I strolled around the city in a relaxed way, looked at the neighbourhoods and a beautiful garden and enjoyed the sunset on Piazzale Michelangelo.

From Florence, I continued via smaller towns through the vineyards towards the coast.

And now I have reached the sea again. Enjoying the view with the mountains in the background and I'm on my way to Genova.