25 Days, 1 Italian Pilgrimage: Francesco’s Journey to the Edge of Spain

Francesco first learned about the Camino as a teenager, but it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic canceled his usual commitments that he finally had the time to go. In July 2020, he began his 25-day trek from Saint-Jean to Finisterre, walking for freedom, connection, and the joy of the journey itself.

A Long-Awaited Journey

For Francesco Di Giuseppe, the Camino de Santiago had been a dream since hearing a pilgrim’s testimony over 15 years ago. Life, work, and politics delayed his plans, but in 2020, COVID cancellations unexpectedly gave him the rare gift of 25 free days. With that, he set off from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, bound for Finisterre.

Walking for Freedom

Unlike many pilgrims, Francesco wasn’t searching for something specific. Instead, he wanted space to connect with himself, meet new people, and reclaim a sense of freedom after months of lockdown in Italy. The Camino offered him landscapes both romantic and raw –  from the eucalyptus forests of Galicia to long stretches of asphalt under the hot sun.

Connections and Memories

Along the way, he met an Italian albergue host whose family traced back to his hometown – proof of the Camino’s magic. He finished in Finisterre, where the ocean and wind marked a symbolic reset. To remember the journey, Francesco had a tattoo inked on his injured leg: the red cross of Santiago, a shell, and the Finisterre lighthouse.