Day three on the Francigena to Rome. From Lucignano to Buonconvento,13.8 KM. 11th June 2025

6 Feb

Don’t worry, we’ll be taking our time on what should be a short,relaxing stroll. In fact,time could be spent exploring the town before departure,if wanted and also stocking up on snacks / water.

Lucignano d’Arbia is a beautiful fortified village, which has carefully kept much of its original medieval architecture. We were greeted at the Porta Senese, the gateway into town, by the old brick,water well, where residents drew their daily water for centuries.

The tall solid brick tower, the Torre del Cassero, dates to the 13th century, as does the beautiful church of San Francesco; the church has a Gothic portal and frescoes by Bartolo di Fredi. The Pieve di San Giovanni Battista is Romanesque, with stone vaults and paintings.

San Francesco

Lucignano d’Arbia is compact and a pretty village to wander. Surrounding it are the postcard-like images of the Tuscan countryside with grape vines, rolling hills and cypress trees.

It’s a 2 km flat stroll to Quinciano to rejoin the main route .
Quinciano has a large palazzo and the 19 th century octagonal Chapel of Pieri Nerli.
Not much else by way of facilities . We walk parallel to a railway on a gravel track among fields of sunflowers for 3.6 KM, then arriving at the outskirts of Ponte d’ Arbia – it’s a 150 M walk into the town for refreshments.

This is an informative link to the history of Ponte d’Arbia.

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://centrocresti.it/en/history/&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwirpbSssaqLAxUxXEEAHbRJLmcQFnoECDgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2Km7YIzykpp2lASvOyRy9C

17 th century cartography
As historian Emanuele Repetti writes: “The Bridge of Arbia was built by the Commune of Siena in 1388, and rebuilt in 1656 under Prince Mattias de’ Medici, governor of that city, who ordinarily ordered the construction of the bridge over the Asso and that one on the Ombrone in front of Buonconvento, as it appears from the inscriptions still existing in their parapets.” (Repetti, 1835, IV, pp.535-526)

We walk uphill en route to Buonconvento, along a series of paths that keep us among fields and off the SR2. The climb is a little steeper towards the top – good views – and eventually pick up the SR2 Via Cassia just before the town, crossing the River Ombrone to enter Buonconvento via the Porto Sienes. About an hour’s walk from Ponte d’Arbia.

An excellent and beautifully illustrated guide to the town.

https://www.discovertuscany.com/crete-senesi/visit-buonconvento.html

Unusually for this part of Tuscany. It’s a medieval walled town (with post-war expansions) which is situated on a plain (and not a hill) at the intersection of the Arbia and Ombrone rivers, surrounded by the grey clay-scarred hills of the Crete Senesi. Located approximately 16 miles to the south-east of Siena ,the town became an important trading centre in the thirteenth century and later a military town for the City State of Siena, which presumably triggered the need for the high town walls and gates which were constructed between 1371 and 1383. 

The Via Soccini in what is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy . The name “ Buonconvento “ comes from the Latin “bonus conventus “meaning “ happy place”.
Medievale Cinto da Mura.
This is our accommodation- Hotel II Ghibellino Via Alighieri Dante, 1 – IT 53022 8
“One of the best breakfasts along the Francigena that we walked. Centrally located, with restaurants and bars nearby. Great staff”,from a recent review.

On a practical note, supermarket Il Frutteto Di Tatania and Charlie’s Pub pizzeria are very close by and recommended.

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