The rain from yesterday had passed and we set out in clear sunshine on a route that, like yesterday, promised to be largely in open countryside. At first we could see San Gimignano on the horizon but soon lost sight of it as we descended into the valleys and around the hills that lay between Gambassi Terme and the city. It was like a walk in the English countryside in the height of summer: rolling green farmland, deciduous woods and the occasional small river or stream. We shared some time with a group of elderly Italians, chatting to them as best we could (it seems they did this part of the Via Francigena every year) and on another stretch we happened upon an elderly Italian gentleman standing outside his isolated house who invited us in to see his '200 types of roses'. We spent a good time listening to his views on the world as he proudly walked us around his garden - which it has to be said was fantastic - and showed us the sweeping views across Tuscany that it gave you.Approaching midday we had reached the undulating road that would take us the last four kilometres or so to San Gimignano. It looked strange from this distance in the midday haze, the towers giving it the look of some dark Gotham or other dystopian city from modern fiction. As we approached and ascended up towards the old wall and through the gates into the city the age and charm of the place was obvious although the narrow streets were thronged with tourists. Nevertheless, we have decided to spend an extra night here to rest and enjoy its charms before we finish the last two days of our walk to Siena.
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