The Via Francigena
The Via Francigena is a historical route connecting Rome to northern Europe by way of France (from which the route gets its name).
It has been a key part of pilgrimage routes since the end of the first millennium. Pilgrims from the north have used it to get to Rome before continuing on to the Holy Land. In the opposite direction, pilgrims headed for Santiago de Campostela would take the Via Francigena north before heading west along the Way of St. James. The Via Francigena was a crucial channel of communication that enabled the sort of cultural unity that characterised Medieval Europe.
Today, the Via Francigena is an unforgettable experience to be enjoyed slowly, throughout all of its 2,000+ kilometres, for a trek that typically takes about three and half months.
See here for more information on the leg from Siena to Ponte d’Arbia.
Percorso della Legalità
The Percorso della Legalità is a greenway that connects with the Via Francigena.
It features ten information panels that guide you on an hour-log stroll through the estate, through nature, and through culture. It is an easy path for the whole family and offers simply stunning views as you learn about the complex and fascinating history of the Suvignano estate. For the Buonconvento-Siena leg, the route connects with the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrimage route that runs north from Rome and on up through France before ending in England. The deviation for Suvignano is marked by a welcome sign with the rules for the route and other helpful information. Like for the Via Francigena, the route through the estate is open to the public, but, because it crosses through active farmland with free-range livestock, there are precise rules of conduct to be followed.
