In 2011 Emilio Estevez captured the imagination of many movie goers with the film "The Way." Starring his father Martin Sheen, the feature introduced us to the Camino de Santiago, the way of St. James. Pilgrimages date back centuries and are tied to religious traditions. Today's pilgrims make their trek for religious reasons, moral exploration, and spiritual clarity. Have you heard of the Via Francigena? It's a pilgrimage to Rome that runs right through the heart of Tuscany. The entire trek starts in Canterbury, England and if you were to walk the entire route, it would take you several months. In our 50th episode of the Total Tuscany Podcast, we introduce you to Roland Monsegu, the founder of FrancigenaWays.com-Roland is an expert in helping you plan your walking or cycling expedition. Our conversation with Roland is fascinating, and he gives us invaluable advice about planning an excursion of such personal significance. The great thing about working with Roland, his company helps you navigate a journey that is as long or as short as you want it to be. According to the company's website, on of the most popular options is section 14 of the Via Francigena. The walk from Lucca to Siena that covers 133 kilometers, or just over 82 miles for us Americans that still don't understand the metric system. There is another expedition that starts in Tuscany and ends in Rome, Camino di San Francesco di Assisi or The Way of St. Francis for short. This journey begins in Florence makes its way to Assisi, and ends in Rome. The entire distance can be covered in 29 days, but can also be divided up into shorter sections to meet your personal preferences. If you have been thinking about a personal journey or even exploring as a group, Roland, and his associates are the people you want to talk to when you start planning. The great news, they just don't focus on the Via Francigena. They can help you with treks all over the world including the Camino de Santiago in Spain. We've always believed this podcast is a great way to learn more about Tuscany and the great cultural experience it has to offer. There are many different ways to explore the region; after listening to this podcast, we do hope your find your WAY.