Lucignano d’Arbia to Buonconvento

9.2 Miles; 4.5 Hours on the trail (Cumulative 122.8 Miles; 59.9 Hours on the trail)

Today’s hike started with a little nip in the air because the temperature was 46 degrees.

Almost as soon as we departed, we walked up a big hill, so we warmed up very quickly.

We had a relatively short walk today at 9.2 miles.                        It was mostly flat with a big hill at the start & a couple steep hills towards the end.

Saw some neat art pieces on the trail.

Today’s destination was Buonconvento.   

Its name comes from the Latin “Bonus Conventus” which means “Happy Place” reflecting the serene atmosphere here.

Listed among Italy’s most beautiful villages, Buonconvento is enclosed by walls built in 1379 that are still largely intact. 

Historically, the village had only two gates: Porta Senese to the north which still has its original 14th Century wooden doors & Porta Romana to the south which was destroyed in WWII. 

Via Soccini runs right through the historic city center.               It is lined with Gothic palazzi, flower-boxed windows, local artisanal shops, & cafes.

This street is named for a local family whose members included illustrious jurists as well as some heretics who organised various doctrinal Socinianism movements that developed during the 16th Century.

Socinianism is a Christian movement that rejected traditional church dogmas favoring human reason & moral behavior.

Buonconvento street scenes: