From France to Rome passing through the Alps, and then still along the entire peninsula to Puglia, whose ports led to the Holy Land, a destination for pilgrims. The Francigena soon established itself as the main road connecting merchants, armies and of course pilgrims, between southern and northern Europe. A slow and meditative journey par excellence in the collective imagination, the Via Francigena gathers within itself a manifold wealth of cultural, historical and artistic treasures, surviving through the centuries and attracting many people every year.
A splendid route that crosses half continent and that reaches here, between Siena, the Val d’Elsa, the Val d’Orcia and the white roads of the Val d’Arbia. Reaching the Francigena from the Hotel Palazzo di Valli is very simple, and you can visit the official website to discover the routes, which can be traveled on foot, by bike, and even on horseback. La Francigena crosses the city of Siena, where in fact the Santa Maria della Scala was built, a current museum complex, and at the time a hospital for pilgrims. Great testimony is the great lane of the Pellegrinaio, a pictorial cycle of the fifteenth century that portrays the history of the hospital and the activities of welcoming pilgrims.
To discover the Sienese museum complex you can visit the official website.
The via Francigena in Tuscany touches beautiful and hidden villages, thick woods and hills, from the Cisa Pass to Lucca, from San Gimignano to Monteriggioni, Siena, Buonconvento, San Quirico, Radicofani, for a total of fifteen stops, to discover the territory, its history, and its food and wine products.