Along the Via Francigena
“Along the Via Francigena” is an event that takes place in March and leads along parts of the Via Francigena; ancient road, which in the Middle Age connected Canterbury to Rome and continued to the ports of Puglia.
It is an opportunity to experience an old way of horseback riding along an ancient road to reach Siena, and to appreciate through a slow way of travelling the cultural, historical and artistic treasures and landscapes of the territory.
Program
Saturday.
Riders meet at Borgo Cignano, horse assignment and departure
Our itinerary leads us from the hills around Cignano, in midst of vineyards and olive groves, to the Mulino di Quercegrossa, from where we will reach the village Lornano, riding along the Via delle Miniere.
Along a white road and past Villa Trasqua we will reach the plain dominated by the Castello di Monteriggioni, built between 1214 and 1219. Still today the Castle, with its lookout and control position, announces the entry into the ancient territory of Siena, which was the boundary of war for centuries.
Continuing along the Via Francigena, passing by the Castello della Chiocciola and after our lunch break, we will carry on to reach our Montalbuccio stop, crossing Pian del Lago and skirting the Romanesque-Gothic hermitage of San Leonardo al Lago in Santa Colomba, dating back to 1119.
Sunday
Riders meet at the horse stop point, departure for Siena.
After crossing Porta Camollia, we will enter the old center of Siena along the main roads of the city on the axis of the ancient Via Francigena: Via Banchi di Sopra, Via di Città, towards the Cathedral, Via Banchi di Sotto up to Piazza del Campo, symbol of Siena, with the Palazzo Comunale and the Torre del Mangia, Fonte Gaia and all the old buildings that frame it.
Having left Piazza del Campo, we will reach the gardens of the Orto de’ Pecci equipped for stop of horses and riders for lunch, which actually will be the end of the event.
