Stage 3

After a rather late night with friendly Italians and plenty of food I had the slightly delayed start of 0640, also partly due to trying to figure out what my Achilles tendon was telling me- however the socks and shoes made it happy again, so I was happy too. As is becoming my habit on this walk I said morning prayer from the Oxford Oratory’s prayer book which is a very convenient size even for backpacking and hiking. Buy your copy here:

https://www.oxfordoratory.org.uk/oratory-prayer-book-buy.php

It was a quickish walk up to Monteleone di Spoleto even if some of it made me question if a path was actually meant to be there, what with all the growth, but the GPS kept me right.

The rest of the walk was largely on tarmac and flat much to my relief- though as the morning wore on the lack of shade became apparent. Walking through villages waking up and greeting people on their way about their lives I was pleased to find myself in familiar farming territory. When around a mile and a half from Leonessa I decided I should sit on a bench and elevate my legs and tuck into the packed breakfast my lovely hosts gave me the previous day. It was shaded and after 25 minutes I felt able to finish the day off.

Leonessa was a wonderful little town, I would definitely return if I was ever to do a driving holiday in this part of Italy. It was a Sunday so things were relatively quiet, however I was pleased to find a mass at 6pm at the church of St Charles Borromeo and not only that a bishop was going to be there as well as a procession! Not to be missed.

One of the great things about Italy if that there are tonnes of churches with often surprisingly good art in them. I say surprising, it is the first time you see it, then you just expect it! I found three interesting ones, one in San Carlo, the other two in San Pietro.

I rather enjoyed Leonessa, and will be sorry to leave to head out on the next stage which is meant to be ‘challenging’…