Gallina to Radicofani
8 Miles; 3.75 Hours on the trail (Cumulative: 161.5 Miles; 78.7 Hours on the trail)
Before leaving Passalacqua, Elena & her mother Miranda prepared us a delicious breakfast using vegetables from their big garden & fresh eggs from their chickens.
Their garden has 70 pumpkins which they said they will use for Halloween.
As we were left Passalacqua, a hot air balloon floated overhead.
Our short walk today started on gravel & grassy tracks meandering through fields going up & down hills before starting a prolonged climb to Radicofani.
The Chiesa di San Pellegrino alle Bricole is a historic medieval Romanesque church & former pilgrim hospice located in Bricole near Gallina.
Abricula is the name of the 11th station in the travel diary of Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was returning to England from Rome where he had gone to receive his mantle directly from Pope John VI in 990.
The name “Abricula” derives from the Latin adjective “Apricum” meaning “a sunny spot”.
Early in the 13th Century, King Phillip Auguste of France stayed here.
Late in the 13th Century, it was known as Ospitale San Peligrini de Obricolis when it was a prosperous pilgrim hospital along the Via Francigena. The resident monks sold the buildings & surrounding land to the wealthy Salimbeni family who presumably made even more money from pilgrims.
On the trail we met two German ladies who are walking the trail separately by themselves.
Birgit is from Hannover & Angelika is from Kiel.
Here are some more images from today’s short trek:
