St. Francis' Way - Page 9

Stroncone - Calvi dell'Umbria

At first, the further way led quiet roads and beautiful field paths downhill, there were also some streams to cross again today. After that it became more mountainous, it went through some small towns, later had to go left across a farm up an extremely steep path, again almost on all fours. Continuing steeply up, we landed at some point at the monastery Speco S. Francesco, idyllically located in the middle of the forest with an amazing view. We had to take a forced rest here, it was thunderstorming. So we took our time visiting the monastery. Afterwards the way ran a piece back, before a long, even steeper climb led to the summit.

In between, one always had a wonderful view into the valley at the power poles. Arrived at the top, a wonderful plain with colorful meadows awaited us again, horses and even pigs grazed here. We made only a short rest, because it looked like thunderstorms again, no fun on such a summit. So we ran a quiet asphalt road a few kilometers downhill to Calvi. In the quiet town were already many people on the road, a large local festival should begin in the late afternoon. No one responded to our ringing at the accommodation in the middle of the central square. We waited and little later appeared Adriana, word got around quickly in the small town when strangers stood around somewhere 🙂.

We checked into the spartan accommodation (room at Adriana on Piazza Mazzini - between Bar Gelateria Mercuri and the church, 50€ per room without breakfast), shortly thereafter it became louder outside our window, the festival began. I don't care for this crowd, I tried to rest a little bit with the noise while Manu watched the whole spectacle. Later she also went to the fairground, it was a quaint, typical Italian festival without tourists. I didn't comfort myself to go out again until the evening, hunger drove me. So we took our dinner in the bar near the fairground, this was full to the brim, because in the evening there should be still a firework to the conclusion of the celebration. I got only little of it, Manu followed the spectacle from the balcony of our house.

Calvi dell'Umbria - Poggio Mirteto

After breakfast in the bar from the day before, we descend the endless stairs from Calvi. Today we left Umbria and went to Lazio. It went for a long time slightly downhill, on roads and dirt roads, often passing through villages. Dark clouds pursued us, but it remained dry. Later came a steep climb, before which there was again a stream to cross. Again we went along the road for a long time, in Borgonovo we first visited a cafe. Here we searched together with the friendly waitress an accommodation, because our previous accommodation plan we had to change something. I did not trust this nunnery tomorrow in Farfa, I had often read on the web that it would not open.

So we planned Poggio Mirteto as the destination for today. But it was still a long way. So we walked further along the road and still extensively visited the old church of Vescovio. Up and down the further way ran again on roads through villages, it was annoying to constantly watch out for vehicles on the roadside. But sometime in the late afternoon we entered Poggio Mirteto through the town gate. After short orientation difficulties we found our accommodation (Albergo Da Peppino, double room 50 € with breakfast). Our simple room was located on a main road, but we had everything we needed here. After the tour of the city we moved in the evening in the well-attended pizzeria next to the Albergo.