Via Francigena Packing List

Via Francigena Packing List

About a year ago, I decided to experiment with my inn-to-inn packing list. I’d just finished reading Glen Van Peski’s book, Take More, Do Less, which inspired me to pare down my gear to the essentials for the Camino Portugués. My overall assessment of this...
My Via Francigena Itinerary

My Via Francigena Itinerary

When I began planning my spring 2025 trek on the Via Francigena, I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect. Was this European pilgrimage going to be like the Camino de Santiago routes in Spain? Could I stop wherever I got tired each day, or was I limited to certain...
Primitivo Day 2: Labor Day

Primitivo Day 2: Labor Day

Thursday – May 1, 2025 Start: Grado, Spain End: Porciles Distance: 30.2 km (18.9 miles) Lodging: Posada de Peregrinos Fontenaya On day 2 of the Camino Primitivo, I left Grado in a thick, humid fog left by the overnight rain. The trail climbed about...
Primitivo Day 1: A Sweaty Start

Primitivo Day 1: A Sweaty Start

Wednesday – April 30, 2025 Start: Oviedo, Spain End: Grado Distance: 27.2 km (17 miles) Lodging: Albergue la Quintana Before I could leave Oviedo on day 1 of the Camino Primitivo, I needed to make my way to the start line: the 9th-century Gothic cathedral in the...