Each day on this section of the Via Francigena between Lucca and Siena we walked through picturesque countryside with olive groves, medieval towns and rolling vineyards. When you pass through the Chianti fields, a stop at a local vineyard for wine tasting is an absolute must. A couple of kilometres from San Giovanni, the Podere La Marronaia winery is a great option. We chose an option that allowed us to try four wines, some olive oil and a unique biscotti infused with Chianti wine. This was the perfect way to finish up that day's walk!

 

The town that most surprised me on this section of the Via Francigena was San Gimignano, which is surrounded by 13th-century walls. I loved exploring its cobbled alleys, medieval towers and the 12th-century Duomo di San Gimignano. There are two places during the walk that I would recommend more time if a rest day was wanted – one is San Gimignano because of its atmosphere, shops, bars and excellent range of restaurants, from Michelen-star to family-friendly restaurants. 

The second place I would recommend another day at is at an agriturismo in the countryside near Gambassi Terme, on day 3. Agriturismos are farm house resorts that are often in picturesque locations. This one was surprisingly luxurious, boasting outstanding restaurants and facilities. For meit ticked all the right boxes, from the old stone building itself, the pretty canopy-covered bed, its pool amongst the vines and lovely restaurant overlooking northern Tuscany’s rolling hills. For those who want their rest day to provide relaxation this is the perfect place to stop. The restaurant provided the best dinner of the walk - I still dream about my meal of steak tartare, truffle tortellini pasta and the outstanding wine.

 

As far as ending points for walks go, Siena is pretty special. It's a vibrant medieval city jam-packed with history. Its heart is its central plaza, called Il Campo, which is where the famous Palio horse race takes place twice a year on 2 July and 16 August. If you want to coincide the end of your walking trip with one of these dates, you should book your trip well in advance.