Stage 6: Colle di Val d'Elsa to Monteriggioni

16.6 Kilometers
Elevation gain/loss: 547m/424m
23,864 steps
Total distance traveled: 116.2km
Distance to Rome: 302.8km

We got over the 100km mark today, and are now one quarter of the way to Rome.

A lot of pilgrims would argue with me, but both Brenda and I found today's walk to be the most beautiful so far. Almost the entire first half threaded it's way through forested ground and along the banks of the Elsa river. The sound of the river lulled us into an almost meditative state, and the waterfalls provided visual confirmation of the beauty of nature. The Elsa's water has an odd, white/aqua tint to it, created by the erosion of the limestone bed over which it flows. But the water is filled with fish frogs and newts, evidencing it's health .

Not only was the trail today beautiful, it contained a couple of loooong, leisurely inclines, a loooong, slow descent, and a short heartbreak-hill climb as we arrived at Monteriggioni.

Monteriggioni, another hilltop, medieval, walled city, is very cute, but also tiny. To walk across the town only added a couple hundred meters to today's journey. There's very little to see and do here, but it was worth the climb to take in what it had to offer.

Tomorrow, we head to Siena where we'll take another day off to enjoy the sites. The last time we were here was around 2009, and I remember getting into a Groundhog Day situation while trying to drive to our accomodations. It seemed that no matter which way I turned, I always ended up back at the same starting point.

Hopefully things will be easier on foot.Read more