Walking the Via Francigena in Tuscany: What an Unplanned Journey Taught Me About Life, Marriage and Making Space for What Matters

Sometimes the best journeys are the ones you never plan.

This July, I found myself in Geraardsbergen, Belgium, attending our annual South African wine tasting with our importer, Frederick from Minnegoed Wines. The business side of the trip had been carefully organised months in advance. What happened afterwards was not.

When I booked my flights back in January, airline pricing worked in my favour and left me with an unexpected extra week in Europe. Rather than rushing home or counting down the days, I began searching for somewhere new to explore.

One destination kept appearing on my screen: Tuscany.

I didn't need much convincing.

Two years earlier, we had travelled through Northern Italy and fallen completely in love with the rolling vineyards, picturesque villages and relaxed rhythm of life. The idea of spending a week in Tuscany felt less like a decision and more like an opportunity I couldn't ignore.

While researching the region, I remembered conversations with my friends, Colene and Riana, who had walked part of the Via Francigena in Tuscany, the ancient pilgrimage route stretching from Canterbury to Rome. Colene spoke about her experience with such enthusiasm that her excitement became contagious.

Before long, I had convinced myself that walking from Lucca to Siena, alone, was a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

Looking back, I'm still not entirely sure whether it was bravery or stubbornness.

Perhaps a little of both.

Walking the Via Francigena in Tuscany During a Summer Heatwave

Although I have travelled solo many times before, I had never attempted anything quite like this.

There was no detailed plan, no support vehicle and no travelling companion.

Just a backpack, a route map and four days of walking through Tuscany during a scorching summer heatwave.

Reality arrived quickly.

On the first day alone, I covered 30 kilometres in temperatures exceeding 40°C.

The Tuscan countryside was every bit as breathtaking as I'd imagined. Golden fields stretched endlessly into the distance, cypress-lined roads wound through ancient villages, and every hill seemed to reveal a new postcard-worthy view.

Yet beauty does not make the walking easier.

By late afternoon, my water was running low, my legs were exhausted, and my accommodation sat frustratingly at the top of one final steep hill.

As I began the climb, I knew there was only one option.

Keep walking.

Nobody was coming to rescue me. There was no shortcut and no alternative route.

Just one foot in front of the other.

When I finally arrived at my accommodation with barely five minutes to spare, I wasn't proud because I had survived a difficult day.

I was grateful.

Grateful that my body could still carry me 30 kilometres through a foreign country.

Grateful that curiosity still outweighed comfort.

Grateful that at this stage of life there are still adventures waiting around unexpected corners.

The journey didn't teach me that I can do hard things.

I already knew that.

What it reminded me of was something far more important:

There is joy in choosing a challenge simply because it makes you feel alive.

The Kindness of Strangers

Long after the sore muscles have faded, one memory will remain stronger than any photograph.

The kindness of the people I met along the way.

Tuscany is famous for its beauty, and rightly so. But what impressed me most was not the landscape. It was the people.

Locals were patient, welcoming and eager to help. Fellow pilgrims shared something less tangible but equally meaningful.

A quiet understanding.

We all knew why we were there.

One evening I shared a room with three women I had met along the route. Two were younger, one older, and all were from the former Yugoslavia.

Oddly enough, I never learned all of their names.

And somehow, that didn't matter.

Our connection wasn't built on careers, backgrounds or biographies.

It was built on shared experience.

We all understood what it felt like to wake before sunrise, lace up tired shoes and step back onto the trail.

Our conversations drifted from travel to life itself.

We spoke about goals, ageing, personal challenges and the privilege of being able to experience the world at walking pace.

In a world that often feels rushed and transactional, there was something refreshing about meeting people with no expectations attached.

Sometimes the strongest connections are formed between people who may never see each other again.

Walking Creates Space for Perspective

When you walk for eight to ten hours a day, there is nowhere to hide from your thoughts.

No endless stream of emails.

No social media scrolling.

No constant noise competing for your attention.

Just silence, movement and time.

At first, I found myself thinking about work, responsibilities and the never-ending to-do lists waiting at home.

But somewhere between the vineyards, olive groves and dusty farm roads, those thoughts began to soften.

The rhythm of walking has a way of creating clarity.

Problems seem smaller.

Gratitude becomes easier.

The things that truly matter come into sharper focus.

I found myself reflecting on the people I love, the life we've built and how easily busyness can crowd out what is important.

Why the Via Francigena Tuscany Route Was Harder Than Expected

Perhaps the most surprising lesson from walking alone was how much it made me appreciate sharing life with someone else.

When we are married for years, it becomes easy to focus on schedules, responsibilities and practicalities.

Distance creates perspective.

Walking the Tuscany Via Francigena reminded me how fortunate I am to have a partner who supports my sometimes unconventional ideas and encourages me to chase experiences like this.

Marriage isn't only about sharing homes, finances or responsibilities.

It's about sharing growth.

It's about having someone who celebrates your adventures, even when they aren't part of them.

And sometimes, being apart for a short while reminds you just how grateful you are to walk through life together.

Making Space for What Matters

The biggest lesson I brought home from Tuscany wasn't about endurance or fitness.

It was about making space.

Space for adventure.

Space for curiosity.

Space for meaningful conversations.

Space for reflection.

And space for the people who matter most.

Life has a way of filling every available corner with obligations, deadlines and responsibilities. If we're not careful, years can pass without making room for experiences that challenge, inspire and energise us.

This walk reminded me that we don't always need grand plans.

Sometimes all we need is the courage to say yes to an unexpected opportunity.

Because often the most memorable journeys begin with a simple decision:

To take the next step.

Tuscan Walk Via Frangicena Guide Pisa to Sienna.pdf

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Final Thoughts

As I walked through Tuscany's vineyards, olive groves and hilltop villages, I was reminded that some of life's greatest pleasures cannot be rushed. Whether it's a long walk, a meaningful conversation, a good meal or a carefully crafted bottle of wine, the things that enrich our lives often require time, patience and presence.

Perhaps that was Tuscany's greatest lesson of all.

Till next time.