Must-see: unique San Gimignano The towers of San Gimignano, perched on a pretty Tuscan hilltop, are one of the most magnificent and unusual views pilgrims will encounter as they make their way along the Via Francigena trail. The medieval skyscrapers of San Gimignano are a fascinating reminder of the might and power of local feuding […]
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It is difficult to estimate the exact number of Via Francigena pilgrims, those walking or cycling any of the sections or the full Camino to Rome each year. According to Cicerone Guides, there was an estimated 2,500 Via Francigena pilgrims in 2012. Taking into account the route stretches across Europe all the way from Canterbury to Rome,
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Spanish Words with No English Translation I’m a little bit smitten with the language and believe that the Spanish have a beautiful way with words. I’ve found that many Spanish words are quite telling of the Mediterranean, family-orientated way of life. There are many Spanish words which have no English translation, today I’ve put together
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FAQ: tourist tax in Italy When you are travelling the Via Francigena in Italy, you will find in some cities and historic towns you will have to pay a local tourist tax, what is called ‘Tassa di soggiorno’. This local tax is collected by hotels on behalf of the local authorities and they are charged
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What is the best time to walk the Via Francigena? The Via Francigena, or Camino to Rome, is a 1900km-long pilgrimage route crossing most of Europe from the UK to Italy, therefore weather will vary greatly from North to South throughout the year. So what is the best time to walk the Via Francigena? While
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Following the Yellow Arrows to Santiago The name of Don Elías Valiña Sampedro might not ring any bells but you will certainly recognise his most ‘famous’ creation: the yellow arrow pointing the way along the Camino de Santiago. Don Elías (1929-1989) was the parish priest in O Cebreiro in Lugo and studied the history of the St James
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How long is the Via Francigena? The Via Francigena, or Camino to Rome, covers over 2000kms from Canterbury in the UK to Rome in Italy. This epic trail, following the pilgrimage route taken by Sigeric the Serious, Archbishop of Canterbury, back in the 10th century, crosses regions of spectacular beauty, such as the Alps and
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Must-see: 5 things to do in Lucca One of the most popular sections of the Via Francigena, Italy’s Camino, starts in the magnificent walled city of Lucca, in Tuscany, and takes walkers to spectacular Siena. Many walkers choose to start in San Miniato instead of Lucca, avoiding the first couple of walking days, as the
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Camino preparation: how to avoid blisters On his latest Camino preparation post, Peter Duffy from D-Pete Health and Fitness in Dublin, shares useful tips to help walkers understand and how to avoid blisters. Very handy advice whether you are getting ready for your Camino de Santiago adventure or simply enjoy hiking and hillwalking. By Peter
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Favourite Camino: Pontesampaio CaminoWays.com staff members get asked about their favourite Camino de Santiago spots or places along the way. With this in mind, each member of the team is sharing his/her particular place on the Camino they feel it is special to them. Second of the series is Sabela, from the CaminoWays.com Sales and Customer Care
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The Via de la Plata starts in the magnificent city of Seville. This Camino de Santiago route was first of all a trading road used by the Romans to join the North and the South of Spain and it is by far the longest Camino (1000km). Seville is the capital and largest city of the
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One Lost Soul Finds His Feet on The Camino de Santiago Francis Fitzgibbon tells the story of how one lost soul managed to find his feet along the Camino de Santiago. Francis Fitzgibbon 14 September 2013 The heat of the midday sun was beating down as I struggled to make it to the top of
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Leave your burdens and be in the moment Who: Leda McIntyre-Hall of WashingtonWhere, when, why: I went to Spain for three weeks to walk part of the Camino de Santiago. Like many Americans, I hadn’t heard of the Camino de Santiago until the release of the Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen film “The Way” in
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Climbing Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday The last Sunday of July is Reek Sunday, when thousands climb Ireland’s holy mountain, Croagh Patrick in Westport, County Mayo. Climbing Crough Patrick is no small task and it’s a great way to prepare for the Camino de Santiago. This year, the CaminoWays.com team headed to Mayo in the
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Can you see Ireland from the Tower of Hercules? The port city of A Coruña, in North West Galicia, is one of the traditional starting points of the English Way to Santiago de Compostela. The English Way was one of the routes followed by pilgrims from Northern Europe who used to arrive to the ports of Coruña or
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Andrew McCarthy on life, travel writing and the Camino Former Hollywood backpacker Andrew McCarthy’s life changed forever while walking the Camino de Santiago. In an extract from his first book, he describes how that led to a second career as a travel writer I was in a bookstore, gazing at a girl across the display
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