April 20, 2016 - Via Francigena Day 4

Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano (13.4 km)

I think we had too much to dream last night...or maybe it was just a misunderstanding about what time breakfast would be served (more likely).

We stumbled downstairs to find the hostel empty.  Pilgrims gone, no coffee, the eating area an empty room with the scattered remains of a hastily devoured meal on the abandoned tables.  We did manage to pluck a few leftover scraps from the counter then went looking for a cappuccino or two in Gambassi to kickstart our day.  A while later, with some further sustenance, we finally ambled out of Gambassi well behind our fellow pilgrims.

We weren't on the road too long before we entered Chianti countryside... 

 And it wasn't too much further before we came upon a winery decorated with Francigena logos.  If the winery didn't draw our attention, the logos certainly did and being the winewalkers we are we just had to stop for a wine tasting. Unfortunately the doors were locked and when the caretaker said the owner wouldn't be back for a while we were about ready to give up.  Just then he wheeled into the yard and gladly opened the doors for us.  We had our wine tasting and picked up an excellent Sangiovese/Merlot blend and later consumed the same for lunch.

Casanuova Winery 

Back on the road we ran into this young man who was walking the opposite way. Stopping to ask him where he was headed, he told us he was walking to Canterbury from south of Naples!  So pilgrims do walk the other way!

Eventually we stopped for a lazy lunch and consumed our bottle of wine... thankfully San Gimignano showed up just in time...

San Gimignano

Described as a medieval Manhatten, San Gimignano once boasted 72 medieval towers, of which only 14 remain, but it is an unforgettable site to behold on the horizon.