Piacenza to Fiorenzuola

Mr Melezet
Sep 15, 2020
2 min read

The Via Emilia

Up at 7 to get a good start. The Via Emila runs in a straight line for 22km between the endpoints of today's stage. The Francigena winds for 32km sometimes north, sometimes south and too often along the very busy Via Emilia.

It seemed to take an age to get out of Piacenza but that was probably because the town spills out into industrial estates, car dealerships and discount stores. It was not an attractive walk.

Today's date: 15.9.20

Weather: sunny and hot

Steps: 48,400

Distance: 33.36 km

Climbing: 74 m

For a while at the edge of town the via runs along the main road. It was just plain dangerous and by far worst stretch we have done. At Pontenure we stopped and grabbed an early lunch. It was a very pleasant town.

At this point the Via takes a big diversion south through open fields and farms. The route was still mostly on roads but it was quieter. The route ran in straight lines around rectangular fields - the route looked like an etch-a-sketch drawing.

It was hot and humid with very little shade. We found a tap in a park at Chero which was much needed. The only plus of the very dull walk was the view of the Appenine mountains in the distance. Just a few more days until a change of scenery.

The via runs through a ford near Fiorenzuola which was less adventurous than it sounds as there were huge stepping stones. There were tomatoes growing in the fields, just waiting to be picked - they looked really tasty.

We walked briskly through Fiorenzuola as we had a train to catch. The traffic is routed away from the centre which looked attractive, with lots of different shops and pavement cafes. The railway runs parallel to Via Emilia as is similarly straight.