Wandelgids - Pelgrimsroute The Way of St Francis - Via Francigena | Cicerone

This guidebook to the Way of St Francis describes a 550km month-long pilgrim trail through the green heart of Italy. The route begins at Florence and goes through Assisi before its climax in Rome, exploring the mountains of Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio on the way. The route is split into 28 stages, each graded from 'easy' to 'hard'. Some stages include steep climbs and descents, but no special gear is required.

Alongside a detailed route description, colour maps and accommodation information, the guidebook contains a concise biography of Francis of Assissi and stories of his life that relate to each location visited. Also included is a walking tour of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. This book is a trove of information that makes a perfect companion for anyone setting out to walk the Way of St Francis.

The Way of St Francis is one of the most popular pilgrim routes in Italy, and it offers a great range of sights: olive groves, vineyards, Renaissance Florence, the Casentino National Forest, hilltop towns, ancient ruins, mountains, the Marmore Falls, the Vatican City and more.

Activities

Long-distance walking, trekking

Seasons

Spring, summer and fall. Winters are possible, too, except for higher elevations where snow is not uncommon.

Centres

Florence, Camaldoli, Santuario della Verna, Cittá di Castello, Gubbio, Assisi, Spello, Spoleto, Cascata delle Marmore, Rieti, Rome.

Difficulty

Some steep climbs and descents, but no special gear required. All walks are graded either "Easy", "Moderate", or "Hard".

Must See

Renaissance Florence, the dark and lovely Casentino National Forest, the active hermitage of Camaldoli, St. Francis' beloved Santuario della Verna, historic Gubbio, beloved and beautiful Assisi, charming Spoleto, Marmore Falls. The walk is sprinkled with sacred sites from the life of St. Francis and culminates in the Eternal City of Rome.

1 Florence to Santuario della Verna

Stage 1 Florence to Pontassieve

Stage 2 Pontassieve to Passo della Consuma

Stage 3 Consuma to Stia

Stage 4 Stia to Camaldoli (village)

Stage 5 Camaldoli to Badia Prataglia

Stage 6 Badia Prataglia to Santuario della Verna

2 Santuario della Verna to Assisi

Stage 7 Santuario della Verna to Pieve Santo Stefano

Stage 8 Pieve Santo Stefano to Sansepolcro

Stage 9 Sansepolcro to Citerna

Stage 10 Citerna to Città di Castello

Stage 11 Città di Castello to Pietralunga

Stage 12 Pietralunga to Gubbio

Stage 13 Gubbio to Biscina

Stage 14 Biscina to Valfabbrica

Stage 15 Valfabbrica to Assisi

3 Assisi to Rieti

Stage 16 Assisi to Spello (easier route)

Stage 16A Assisi to Spello (harder route)

Stage 17 Spello to Trevi

Stage 18 Trevi to Spoleto

Stage 19 Spoleto to Ceselli

Stage 20 Ceselli to Arrone

Stage 21 Arrone to Piediluco

Stage 22 Piediluco to Poggio Bustone

Stage 23 Poggio Bustone to Rieti

4 Rieti to Rome

Stage 24 Rieti to Poggio San Lorenzo

Stage 25 Poggio San Lorenzo to Ponticelli

Stage 26 Ponticelli to Monterotondo

Stage 27 Monterotondo to Monte Sacro

Stage 28 Monte Sacro to Vatican City

Tour of the Seven Pilgrimage Churches of Rome

€ 24,95