Trek along the Via Francigena (route of the Franks) from the French border to Genoa, along the Ligurian coast of the Cinque Terra, to Lucca and Siena and finally Rome. The present day economic and cultural conditions of towns along the Via Francigena will win our attention as we attempt to understand the communications that defined this route in the pre-modern era of the troubadours, the newsprint world of the industrial era, and the e-world of contemporary times. Students will also enroll in the other regularly offered courses during the Siena fall program as well.