After the lockdown Italians made beaches and mountains overcrowded, while many people stayed home because of fear of contagion. On the 'other' via Francigena Elisa and Gabriella showed how to be panic free while remaning safe.
No fear. No panic. Keep calm and carry on. Or, well! Keep calm and walk on. That’s exactly what two young Italian ladies do in times of Coronovirus. Despite all, they walk the line linking the central part of Italy to the south-eastern region Apulia. Elisa and Gabriella, marching on together, set off on discovery of their land, for an 800 kilometers long adventure, step more, step less.
The two young ladies have been covering 25 kilometers per day, on average. The departure took place 10 day ago, in Velletri, 40 kilometers far from Rome. Arrival foreseen 5 October, in Santa Maria di Leuca. The long march has been located along the Via Francigena. Not the official one, rather the less know twin path. In the Middle Ages, Via Francigena was the major pilgrimage route to Rome from the north. It put in connection, and still does, the Eternal City with the rest of Europe. There is also a pilgrimage route connecting Rome with Jerusalem, and that's exactly the one chosen by Elisa and her comrade.
In somehow the so-called 'Southern Via Francigena' is a prolongation of the main route, even if it has no official recognition compared to the real, northern, Via Francigena. No problem. On the contrary, the fact that this pedestrian itinerary is less popular makes it less populated, and that's very positive in times where gatherings and crowds are kindly recommended to be avoided.
