Day 4 - Sansepolcro to Citerna

This was a shorter and easier day after the rain on the previous day. Sansepolcro is on the valley floor and the circuituous way of St Francis headed west across the valley. After three days in the hills, it was a novel experience not climbing or descending. That being said, the first section of the stage was grim - a couple of km alongside a busy road. But one left turn through an industrial estate and then one was in gentle countryside.

No gradients - yet

The absence of coffee stops hit hard. The first town, Gricignano, had great pilgrim-friendly signage but no cafe.

After the valley floor, the climb to Citerna was not too bad. The rain however started so the climb was done with a sweltering poncho on my back. Getting to the top of the hill, the town of Citerna had great views back across the valley and a rainbow made a spectacular entrance.

A side benefit of walking in the rain

Arrived at Citerna about 2:30 to find nothing open. There was a bar and a shop, both firmly closed. However, peering through the shop window, I realised the door was open. I walked in to be met by a lady with a broom who was cleaning the place. In my broken Italian, I managed to make it cleat that I was both hungry and thirsty. Bless her, she abandoned her lunch break, made a delicious sandwich, served a cold beer and stamped my credential. By the time, I had finished lunch, the next-door bar had re-opened so an ice-cream and coffee set me up for the final stage to the hotel at Celle. It was a nice-ish agriturismo based on a old hamlet and castle with a restaurant with a great view out over the valley. I was given a table right by the window and played "spot the other pilgrims". The people at the table next me were definitely pilgrims - they just had that look.