DAY 11 - LA VERNA to MOTINA - 1 May 2026

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We left early, straight after our chocolate muesli and yoghurt breakfast, as we were mostly on roads today and wanted to avoid any May Day traffic. 

We needn't have worried because the roads we were on stayed quiet all day. It was mostly downhill, with wonderful views over the countryside. At one stage we tried a short walking path through a hamlet. It was very scenic but every house had a couple of barking dogs, and the last ones weren't behind a fence. After that we stuck to the road. 

At the bottom of the hill we were joined by several walking paths, including the Via di Francesco and the E1. We recorded a short message in the pilgrim book, left in a wooden case. 

It was uphill to Michelangelo's town of birth, Caprese Michelangelo. We ate our mandarins before going into the complex, which included his birth house, copies of some of his most famous works, and works by other artists. 

We briefly shared tuna and tomato sandwiches at a bar but moved on quickly because of the cold. On the way out of Caprese Michelangelo we passed a sign telling us that St Francis had rested on a stone here, leaving an imprint of his back. Luckily a local volunteer was showing some people around and we were permitted to join in. 

Our route continued on sealed road, mostly downhill, past a big artificial lake, to Motina.

The start of a new day's walk
Following the signs from path to road
A lot of road-walking today
Shadows
Wonderful views as we came down from the mountains
Australian long-distance walker photographing an impressive scene
An impressive scene
Looking at something interesting
This innocent-looking dog barked furiously as we passed its house, then followed us a few hundred metres down the road
There's always something to look at as we wander down the road
Upstairs to Michelangelo's birthplace in Caprese Michelangelo
A pair of hands at the Michelangelo birthplace museum
The same pair of hands (different perspective)
Michelangelo's birthplace
Sculpture in the garden at Michelangelo's birthplace
Replicas of some of Michelangelo's sculptures
Replica of the pieta from the Vatican
San Francesco chapel,  Zenzano
Rock where St Francis left an impression
More scenic road-walking
View of the Lago di Montedoglio
Into Motina for the end of the day's walk
Dinner in Motina
Some bits and pieces
Flowers
Birds 
Day 11 - Map
Day:                                11
Distance:                       26.4 km
Walking time:                5 hrs 41 mins
Elevation gain:              308 metres
Cumulative distance:  216.07 km

Comments

  1. Cameron Green1 May 2026 at 23:55

    Great pictures again,guys. That dog gave me fits!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous2 May 2026 at 01:24

    A few new birds today: not sure but if it was near water White throated Dipper, Barn Swallow, Italian Sparrow, White wagtail, common Redstart, house Martin

    Are you keeping an eye on the fires near Pisa?

    ReplyDelete

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