Jerusalem way - Page 7

Marina di Carrara - Siena

In the sunny morning, I first walked endlessly along the beach promenade. Only at the end, after a park, the path turned at right angles inland to Pietrasanta. In the hostel of a nunnery I found accommodation. A pilgrim was even here. We talked, then I went shopping in the suburb. Only rarely I ate warm, did not know yet how to get there with my budget. But the further the way, the more often I treated myself what 🙂. It was a beautiful city, I stayed until evening in the Piazza Duomo and looked at the unusual works of art here in addition to the San Martino Cathedral, among others.

The day after, the first of so many Tuscan highlights, Lucca, was waiting. First the route ran along the main road at the foot of the mountains through the suburb of Pietrasanta, then further through the valley to Camaiore. Only then it became steeper again, but also more wooded. With wonderful views, after crossing the Serchio, it come along its banks to the downtown of Lucca. In Lucca, surrounded by thick walls, one building is more beautiful than the other: the Cathedral of San Martino, the churches of San Michele in Foro and San Francesco. Moreover, here you can also meet all kinds of street artists, opera singers warble in the alleys, painters embellish Piazza San Michele. This is where the full vibrant Italian flair hits you. Before the intense discovery and enjoyment of the city, however, are securing food and accommodation more important. So check into the huge Ostello and off across the impressive, fully preserved city wall to the Supermercato.

It gets warmer and warmer the further south I walk. In nature this is wonderful, on the road not quite so. This was noticeable the next day after Altopascio. First long through the suburbs of Lucca, the route continued through built-up area only along roads, little shady. I even meet some pilgrims on the way, which come from Rome, so run opposite to my route. Some want to go to Switzerland, others through France to Santiago. So everyone goes his way. Arrived in the not so beautiful place, I had to get the key from a library before I moved into the very spartanic accommodation. Here I stayed alone with my Birra Moretti, no more pilgrim in sight 🙂.

The next day it rained, one of the rare days. But it rained like hell. Mostly along main roads, the path led past fields, then through a densely wooded piece of national park. After Fucecchio I crossed the Arno. The destination today was the Franciscan monastery in San Miniato. So far on donation basis, they demanded here 35 €. Although there was supper and breakfast, Alain and Gabriele paid a place before, in San Miniato Basso, 3 €. Not well planned by me 🙂. As compensation, the sun came back and I had a brilliant view over Tuscany on the climbed Torre di Federico. In the evening I visited the mass in the convent, then, only 20 o'clock there was fine dinner with the few monks.

After the good breakfast in the monastery, today beautiful 30 km almost only on quiet hiking trails awaited me. It went today to Gambassi Therme. I have never seen so many gradations of green as on the way today. Shortly before the finish I met my Frenchmen in the cafe again and we walked together into the village. We asked for the accommodation for a long time, but no one knew where it was. Yes, we had also run past it, it was just before the place. And the hostel is ingenious, dinner, breakfast, overnight for 22 €. Quietly located, next to a church where Sigericus is said to have spent the night. That is the bishop of Canterburry, who walked to Rome and back in the Middle Ages. A Spanish pilgrim was already here, in the evening motorcyclists came. Why not, if the pilgrims alone do not fill the hostel, everything costs. A young friendly hospitalera cooked for us, also showed us the church. And even beer supplies are plentiful, cheers Alain 🙂. A successful day all around.

The following day was also wonderful. The French were already gone early, as always. Beautiful paths in bright sunshine led slightly hilly first to San Gimignano with its famous medieval towers. A culture shock when you just come from nature. The city is closed for cars, but another danger lurks: crowds of tourists, Chinese almost run over you with their high-tech cameras. I refused here even my beloved capucchino and walked slowly through the beautiful city, over the Piazza della Cisterna and the Piazza del Duomo, past countless small stores and cafes. After the town with the significant skyline, it went slightly downhill along quiet dirt roads to Colle Val d'Elsa. On the way I had Alain and Gabrielle caught up again and we ran together through the huge gate of the city wall to the Franciscan monastery. It took a long time until someone let us in, which is usually the case in Italy when you get there too early. In the evening I ran through the city for a long time for open Wi-Fi 🙂.

The next day the route first took the main road out of the town, then it went again scenic along field, forest and meadows. In Monteriggoni, a beautiful little walled village, I paused for an hour. Further it went, becoming warmer and warmer, along field paths. Only slowly the houses became more, I was before Siena. The wonderfully pretty city stretches out, my hostel was far away from the city center. Tomorrow the way led indeed by the city, but I wanted to see it today. After the long suburb, the most wonderful thing I was allowed to see so far was waiting for me. With this beauty of the buildings and squares was previously only the Milan Cathedral comparable. In front of the fantastic cathedral and on Il Campo were at the moment in the heat still few people. Twice a year horse races take place on the latter, hardly imaginable. I stayed long, on the way back there was still pizza on the hand (1 € the quarter !!!), before I arrived at the hostel.