St Francis' way is a pilgrimage route linking together several places that bear witness to the life and preaching of the Saint of Assisi; starting from La Verna in Tuscany, the route continues through Umbria, to reach Assisi where he was born. However, it is also possible to start the way from Rome, the eternal city: the Vatican is the starting point. A spiritual journey, to discover the traces of St Francis’ passage and preserve the memory of his words and gestures.
More trails are available on foot, by bicycle and on horseback, with different levels of difficulty: the Tuscan path includes also the trail connecting Florence, the Basilica of Santa Croce, one of the most important Franciscan Churches in Italy, with La Verna Sanctuary, where Francis spent various periods of his life and where he received the stigmata in 1224.
Two alternative trails allow pilgrims to reach the Sanctuary with multiple options on distances, difficulties and places to sleep overnight, which they can choose according to their personal needs. The first trail - direction Pontassieve - passes through the Passo della Consuma.
The second trail, direction Rignano, crosses the Passo di Via Croce Vecchia: after leaving Florence, the travellers pass by Pieve Pitiana, Prato di Strada, Bibbiena to arrive at La Verna. A more difficult trail involves that walkers get to Montemignaio, after leaving Pieve di San Pietro a Pitiana, and then pass by Poppi, to reach La Verna. On his way, the pilgrim can visit a lot of Franciscan places, such as the church of Certomondo a Ponte a Poppi, worth-visiting parish churches like the one of Buiano, and many hospitals, which, in the past centuries, used to welcome pilgrims and wayfarers visiting religious places of interest.
For more information about St Francis' ways, please check the Website.
On this website in the Download section you can find a map of the path
