Find peace and feel the Divine as we meander through the Sacred Forest. This prayerful walk will be that and so much more as we walk through Tuscany and Umbria. Experience healing in the sanctuary of La Verna, one of the places that St. Francis loved the most. Explore the grounds, find your quiet place, and feel yourself being embraced by a divine presence. This profound silence is broken only by the chiming of church bells. A tradition held for almost 600 years, these bells call pilgrims to the procession or prayer. Let the songs of the friars wash over you as you make your way to the exact spot where Francis first received his stigmata. As we leave La Verna, we will saunter through Umbria and Tuscany, discovering quaint villages, wild fruit trees, local wines, and delicious foods. This soulful pilgrimage will not only feed your soul but wrap you in an ocean of Mercy!
Double Rooms. Single Room additional $250
Scheduled Transfers
Can help with flights if needed, additional cost
We meet in Florence, can assist with transfers if needed, additional cost
We end in Assisi, can assist with transfers if needed, additional cost
Unscheduled transfers if needed during pilgrimage
As they say, your pilgrimage begins when you leave your home. Leave the comforts of your home and fly to Italy! We will meet tomorrow in Florence. If you need help in booking flights please let us know.
We will meet you in Florence. Enjoy your day to rest from your long travels. Afternoon and Evening on your own.
We will begin the day with a group breakfast and an introductory meeting. If you'd like, join us for a free morning tour of Florence. This day is yours so you fill it with what makes your heart happy.
You will have a few more hours to explore Florence before we depart for La Verna at around 11 am. We will arrive in time to settle in, witness the awe-inspiring procession, and explore the magnificent Sanctuary. The evening will be spent in La Verna.
After breakfast, we will depart from the Sanctuary of La Verna and head towards our next destination, Pieve Santo Stefano. The trail will take us through the woods, fields, and villages.
Once we arrive in Pieve Santo Stefano, we will be taken to our accommodation in Sansepolcro. Which will be our resting place for 2 nights.
After having breakfast, we will be taken to our starting point and make our way through the hills and valleys, enjoying the breathtaking views all around us. Our first stop will be at the Franciscan Hermitage of Montecasale, where the air is filled with the presence of St. Francis. It was here that he passed through and converted three thieves. Take a moment to relax and enjoy the beautiful sanctuary in the forest.
Once we leave the hermitage, we will continue our journey downhill towards Sansepolcro. The name of this town refers to two pilgrims who founded a monastic community here upon their return from the Holy Land. Sansepolcro is a veritable treasure chest of beauty. Here, you will find famous works by Renaissance masters such as Piero Della Francesca and Rosso Fiorentino.
Although this leg of the journey is challenging, it is also one of the most memorable. The ups and downs may slow down your pace, but they are an opportunity to experience the "perfect joy" of St. Francis.
After having an early breakfast, we will take some time to visit Sansepolcro if we haven't already done so. On the door of the Cathedral of Sansepolcro, you will find a traditional image of a pilgrim with a stick and knapsack, which represents continuity over the centuries between ancient and modern spiritual travelers.
The walk to Citerna is a short distance. Once we leave the city streets, the landscape becomes gentler, and the Umbrian countryside begins. We will arrive in Citerna in less than four hours, where your journey through the land of St. Francis in Umbria begins.
Citerna is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and sits on a hill in the Upper Tiber Valley. It has the characteristics of a fortification, functioning as a watchtower. You should visit the church museum dedicated to St. Francis, the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, where you will find the precious Crucifixion by Pomarancio and a Madonna with Child of the Della Robbia school. A visit to the unusual medieval walkway within the walls is also a must-see.
We will be spending the morning exploring Citerna. You should visit the church museum dedicated to St. Francis, the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, where you will find the precious Crucifixion by Pomarancio and a Madonna with Child of the Della Robbia school. A visit to the unusual medieval walkway within the walls is also a must-see.
We will then make our way to our next resting place, Città di Castello.
Città di Castello has always been a hub for art, with important artists creating works here, and grand buildings and churches being erected, such as the Cathedral, St. Dominic, and St. Francis. One of the most prominent Umbrian artists of the 20th century, Alberto Burri, hailed from Città di Castello, and his pieces can be viewed in the town's two museums. A must-see is the Diocesan Museum, which contains the Treasure of Canoscio - one of the most ancient collections of objects used in liturgy, dating back to the Early Christian era.
We will arrive with plenty of time to explore.
We will be transferred to our starting point at Pieve de' Saddi. This place is of great significance and must be visited. It was the center of the first Christianization of Upper Tiber Valley and has been a religious hub for the entire mountainous region for centuries. Volunteers are available to guide you and offer refreshments in exchange for donations.
The path ahead is marked with uphill and downhill stretches through valleys and fields. This provides a peaceful and serene environment that revitalizes the spirits.
Again, we will be transferred to our starting point. Starting from Loreto, we'll make our way through cultivated fields and villages. You'll reach a tree-lined panoramic viewpoint next to the church of San Giovanni Battista (usually closed, but the kind caretaker lives opposite the church).
Then, you'll continue downhill until you reach the locality of Abbadia di Piazza, where you'll carry on along a secondary road, flanked by majestic oak trees. From here, a long stretch in the sun and on the tarmac begins, and you'll come across the new "Fonte del Pellegrino" (Fountain of the Pilgrim) - a gift to wayfarers from the Parish Church of San Venanzio in Sermonte-Rione del Piano-in the Diocese of Gubbio.
Your arrival in Gubbio will be a reward, not just because of the beauty of the place, but also because of the strong bond that unites St. Francis with the town.
In front of the church of St. Francis, there is an endearing statue of Francis and the wolf, in memory of the miraculous taming of the ferocious beast by the Saint.
Take some time to walk around the town circuit known as the Path of "Fratello Lupo" (Brother Wolf), which allows pilgrims to visit the Franciscan places in the town - the "second home" of the Saint from Assisi.
Enjoy your free day in Gubbio, remember to make some time to walk around the town circuit known as the Path of "Fratello Lupo" (Brother Wolf), which allows pilgrims to visit the Franciscan places in the town - the "second home" of the Saint from Assisi.
Today, we will travel to Valfabbrica to start our walk. This is the final stretch of our journey to Assisi, following in the footsteps of St Francis. It has been an amazing journey, with many ups and downs, but today is a great day!
We will start by walking through the hills and woods, and then from Pieve San Niccolò, we will be greeted with a beautiful view of the valleys, dotted with olive groves and vineyards. The first part of the journey will take us through the forest, with some challenging uphill stretches to tackle.
As we catch our first glimpse of the Basilica of St. Francis, we will be filled with awe and a sense of accomplishment. This is a beautiful moment, a sign that our journey is almost complete. We will make our way to Assisi through the Bosco di San Francesco (Forest of St Francis) of the FAI (Italy's National Trust) we will make a small donation and walk through the woods to enter Assisi. This was the route taken by pilgrims who traveled from Assisi to Santiago de Compostela.
The Basilica of St Francis is a magnificent sight, especially when it is lit up by the sun. The moment we have been waiting for has arrived - we only need to reach the Saint's tomb. Here, in the soft everlasting light, we can reflect on our journey and gather our thoughts in prayer and meditation.
Before entering the Lower Basilica, we can stop by the Statio Peregrinorum to collect our well-deserved Testimonium.
Let's discover Assisi today! We will give you a list of suggestions but these our your days, you earned these. Enjoy!
Another beautiful day in Assisi.
After saying our goodbyes, we will depart for home or more travel.
