Lord Colliers Active Retirement Life

Campagnano di Roma to La Storta

The air in Campagnano di Roma had a familiar feel this morning, perhaps because I ran into Mike again. In a serendipitous turn of events, he was staying right next door to my accommodation. We’ve made plans to meet for a celebratory beer later, a perfect opportunity to start planning our arrival into Rome.

As I set out on the path today, a steady stream of people headed in the opposite direction, away from Rome. I can only assume they are pilgrims returning home after the Jubilee festivities that took place last week. It’s a poignant reminder of the cyclical nature of these ancient paths – as one journey ends, another begins.

The trail was bustling with energy, a convergence of people from all corners of the globe. I shared smiles and stories with fellow travelers from the USA, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Australia, France, and New Zealand. This is the true magic of the Via Francigena! 

Today’s leg of the Via Francigena, is the 15 mile (25 Km) stretch from Campagnano di Roma to La Storta. Leaving Campagnano, the trail offers panoramic views of the Latium countryside before entering the Veio Regional Park. This protected area provides a welcome respite with its lush greenery and ancient history. Again, I saw more wild boar! Crazy how many are here!!!!

The trail then leads through the remaValle with a mix of terrain, from quiet country roads to dusty tracks, offering a truly immersive experience of the Italian landscape. As with all my days, the destination is on a hill, a final ascent into La Storta provides a challenge at the end of the day’s hike! I will miss these challenges for sure! 

La Storta, a suburb on the outskirts of Rome, holds a significant place in the history of the Via Francigena. Its name, meaning “the curve,” is believed to derive from a distinct bend in the ancient Via Cassia, a major Roman road. For centuries, it has served as a crucial resting point for travelers and pilgrims on their final approach to Rome. It’s just a modern suburb of Rome. It really lacks character compared with the places I have stopped at on this journey.

Tonight was a meal at the place we are staying. Fun, but we are getting up at 4:45 so not much beer / wine! lol. We meet at 5:15 for the walk to Rome! 

I have 11.5 miles (19Km) to Rome.