Via Francigena Oct / Nov 2017. Day 16: (near) Medesano to Sivizzano.

After an excellent breakfast at the B&B, we descend to the valley floor via San Andrea Bagni to Felegara. Starts cool but the sun is shining and it warms up later.

One of the things we noticed 4 years ago on the walk to Santiago de Compostela, was that if you stand in one spot long enough looking confused and/or lost, someone will come along who sends you in the right direction . (This happened 3 or 4 times). When we reach Felegara, we somehow end up on a corner that both maps: the official route and the modified route via the B&B, say we should not be on. The freeway is in front of us and we need to get to the other side. We can see a marker that suggests a different route to our official map. While we contemplate left versus right, a van drives past with two men; they stop momentarily in front of us and indicate to the right. We do as told and are soon past the freeway. Later, when we catch up with Pellegrina olandese, she described ending up at the same spot, confused, and two men in a white van sending her in the right direction.

Once at Fornovo di Taro, we cross the bridge to a town busy with market day.

At any church we are always on the lookout for the ghoulish hell images.

Just like the towns of the day before, this is picturesque and looks like it could compete in a ‘tidy town’ competition. We weave our way through the streets, find a cafe for lunch, then to the big climb of the day.

After the big climb on a quiet roadway (an enormous thanks to whoever put those chairs at the top) comes the steep descent followed by about 4kms along the road; thankfully today all traffic gives us a wide berth.