May 3, 2016 - Via Francigena Day 16

Viterbo - Vetralla (18.1 km)

A beautiful morning in Viterbo!  As we began to walk out of town we encountered a gentleman outside of his car who said hello and recognizing us as pilgrims, asked us a few questions regarding the walk.  He then told us to make sure we stopped at the cathedral, the Papal Palace, as we were leaving town.  The palace served as the seat of the Popes for 24 years, from 1257 to 1281.  As he got in his vehicle and drove away we began making our way towards the cathedral, which was only a short distance away.  Nearing the cathedral we saw him again parking his vehicle beside the church and then going up the stairs to wait for us.  It turned out that he was the hostelaria and had the keys to the church.  After opening the doors for us he then opened the doors to other rooms, not normally seen, including one that hosted the first and longest conclave, back in the 13th century.

Streets of Viterbo in the morning...note signs for both the palace and the Via Francigena

The Papal Palace as seen from the adjoining arcade.

The Loggia of the Papal Palace

Fresco in the interior of the Papal Palace

The interior of the Papal Palace

In the quiet of the room that housed the first conclave of the cathedral the hostelaria  stamped our pilgrim passports.

Fountain in front of the Papal Palace with Viterbo in the background

Not far out of Viterbo we encountered the steep sided Etruscan roadways that were at the same time eerie and enchanting...

Keeping an open eye for rapidly approaching cars from behind and ahead.

The route continued through fields of grasses and flowers.  A pleasant day without a threat of rain.

 Eventually we arrived at our destination of Vetralla.  We had booked rooms at Albergo Da Benedetto, which was located a couple of kilometres before the main part of the town, which also meant we would have to add on another couple of kilometres to tomorrows walk.

Albergo da Benedetta

We had rooms with a balcony overlooking the courtyard, a pleasant place to sit and share a glass of wine and discuss the days journey and the days to come...

I seem to be enjoying my glass of wine!