Amidst medieval villages, hills and breathtaking sights winds one of the most beautiful walks you absolutely must do in Italy. This is the Via di Francesco, a route that will allow you to reach Assisi, walking through the places so dear to St. Francis.
Walking the Via di Francesco means taking a spiritual journey along spectacular territories and little-known villages in Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio. Below you will find information for walking the Via di Francesco with the stages, places not to be missed and information on where to stay.
Via di Francesco
The Via di Francesco is a spiritual journey in the footsteps of St. Francis, an itinerary immersed in nature that links some of the key places in the life and preaching of the Saint of Assisi. The route crosses Umbria via Tuscany and Lazio: it starts from the Sanctuary of La Verna in Tuscany or from Rome, for those following the Via del Sud.
If you wish to walk the Saint Francis Walk, there is a Credential that is issued to those who walk the pilgrimage (on foot, by bicycle or on horseback) and undertake to accept its spirit. The Pilgrim's Credential must be requested at least 3 weeks before departure. The best time to walk it is in spring or autumn.
The northern route
It starts from the Sanctuary of La Verna in Tuscany. From the Park of the Casentinesi Forests, you reach the hills of the Upper Tiber Valley in Umbria via Citerna, Città di Castello and Pietralunga. After an obligatory stop in Gubbio, the trail continues towards Valfabbrica until it reaches the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi.
The Via del Sud
The route starts in Rome and continues towards the Holy Valley of Rieti, where you will find beautiful Franciscan sanctuaries such as Greccio, La Foresta, Poggio Bustone and Fontecolombo.
From Lake Piediluco, one ascends along the Valnerina passing through Arrone, Ferentillo and Ceselli. Once in the Spoleto Valley, the route passes through beautiful villages rich in history and art: Spoleto, Trevi, Fogligno and Spello are some of them, until arriving in Assisi.
Stages and Route
From the north
La Verna
Pieve Santo Stefano
Sansepolcro
Citerna
Città di Castello
Pietralunga
Gubbio
Valfabbrica
Assisi
From the South
Rome
Montesacro
Monterotondo
Ponticelli of Scandriglia
Poggio San Lorenzo
Rieti
Poggio Bustone
Greccio
Terni
Arrone
Piediluco
Ceselli
Spoleto
Poreta
Trevi
Foligno
Assisi
Where to stay
In Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany you can stay in various accommodation facilities that welcome those who walk in the footsteps of Saint Francis. It is very easy to find accommodation, on the official website you will find information on where to stay, while on Francesco's way there are numerous hostels, b&b's and refuges to choose from.
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