Got started on day 8 at 8:00 and reached the Siena city limit at 1:20, but then it took me another 1 1/2 hrs to arrive at Hotel Duomo—rest break before a killer hill of at least 20% incline and 80 deg (27C) and a coo-down break once in the outskirts. Hilltop towns are great for medieval defense but not for pilgrims!
At breakfast, I spotted two great posters of Siena Palios and their famous horse races in the city center on the Campo (main square) (I encountered my first such festival at Gambassi Terme on day 3). Took a good pic of the back side of Monteriggioni’s wall, but my most curious find was a smoother serpentine trail for several kilometers along the Francigena specifically for wheelchairs—pretty cool! Then a stop at a super friendly, donativo rest stop and later at cemetery helped break up the day’s 13.7 mi.
It was soon obvious that Siena is very POPULAR, both day and evening (pic of beer festival a block from my hotel). Tomorrow is a rest day to see some of the many sites.
