Written by Italy & Greece Overseas Students, Sydney and Logan
A few weeks back, we did part of the Via Francigena! We walked for 4 days and had great weather throughout! Lauren was our guide through it all, she was amazing! We met a nice gentleman on the first day who stopped us and talked about how he hosted hikers doing the trek! We stopped at various small towns along the way as well as the best gelato! We ended the trek and made our way to Paladini for a week.
Top Highlights of the Week:
🥾 The challenging, yet rewarding trek to the finish!
🤝 Meeting the volunteers at Paladini, where they came from, and why they came
🍦 Gelato, gelato, and more gelato!! 🍧
🍷 Wine tasting
Challenges Faced:
We were challenged with the different terrain of the Via Francigena. Hilly, muddy, winding roads, and lots of ground to cover. Overall, we all came out stronger!
Gratitude:
The group couldn’t be more grateful for the partners we work with and how accommodating they are to our wants. They show us a different side of the city or countryside and talk about their experiences with this place. It is a pleasure to learn the history and culture of a new place. Next week, we will be staying at Paladini! This is a campground of sorts where we will be doing some outdoor work with gardening and deforestation! This week will be tech-free and a chance to connect with nature and each other’s presence.
