Stage 21: Campagnano di Roma to La Storta

22.4 kilometers
Elevation gain/loss: 654m/785m
Steps: 30,651
Total distance traveled: 393.5km
Distance to Rome: 20.5km

We got off to an early 7:10 start this morning for this fairly long, and penultimate stage of our trek to the Vatican.

As Brenda so aptly put it yesterday: "we've already walked nine marathons, and we only have one more to do to reach the Vatican."

We split the last marathon into two almost equal halves, and set out this morning to wrap this journey up over the next two days.

This stage was very reminiscent of Tuscany, with a series of long, steep ascents followed immediately by long, steep descents. This was our eighth straight day of trekking, and our legs were really beginning to feel the hills.
We were expecting today's walk to be fairly urban since we're only 42 kms from Rome. We were, therefore, surprised at how verdant it was. A good portion of it was through woodlands in the Veio Regional Park, a vast natural reserve located just north of Rome that covers approximately 15,600 hectares.

We didn't see much of interest until we reached the Villa Campetti archeological site. The site’s timeline spans from the 9th century BC to the 7th century AD, showcasing continuous human occupation. Once misidentified as a Roman villa, recent excavations have reinterpreted it as a significant therapeutic and cultual centre, likely dedicated to healing through hydrotherapy.

Our time in La Storta was very short since we were unable to find lodging there. As such, we bused back ro Campagnano to spend the night. Our AirBnb host will drive us back to La Storta tomorrow morning, where we'll pick up where we left off.

We both have mixed feelings about reaching the end of this journey. On one hand, we're sad it's coming to it's conclusion, on the other hand, our bodies are giving us both clear signs that it's time to wrap it up.

And now, there are only 20.5 kilometers left to enjoy. We WILL take the time to appreciate every step as we approach our goal.Read more