Walking in the Footsteps of St. Francis from La Verna to Assisi
13 Days / 11 Nights | Rome · La Verna · Tuscany · Upper Tiber Valley · Gubbio · Assisi
A Catholic Walking Pilgrimage through Tuscany & Umbria
There are places we visit as tourists, and there are roads that must be walked as pilgrims.
The Way of St. Francis belongs to the latter.
This extraordinary walking pilgrimage crosses the mountains, valleys, medieval villages and forests of central Italy associated with St. Francis of Assisi, leading ultimately to Assisi and his tomb.
Rather than simply visiting the principal Franciscan sanctuaries by bus, pilgrims spend several days walking through the landscapes that shaped Franciscan spirituality—landscapes of silence, simplicity and extraordinary natural beauty.
Our journey begins in Rome, heart of the Catholic Church, before traveling north to the Sanctuary of La Verna. It was here, during a period of prayer and fasting in 1224, that St. Francis received the Stigmata, bearing in his own body the wounds of Christ.
From La Verna, we begin our pilgrimage on foot.
Over the following days, the route takes us through Pieve Santo Stefano, Sansepolcro, Citerna, Città di Castello, Pietralunga, Gubbio and Valfabbrica, crossing from Tuscany into Umbria and following ancient roads, mountain paths and rural trails.
Each day’s walk becomes part of the pilgrimage itself.
There is time to pray.
Time to speak.
Time to walk in silence.
Time to contemplate creation.
And time to rediscover the radical simplicity of the Gospel that transformed the life of Francis.
The route eventually reaches Gubbio, forever associated with the famous story of St. Francis and the wolf. From there, we follow the Franciscan Path toward Assisi.
The culmination comes when, after days on foot, Assisi finally appears in the distance beneath Mount Subasio.
We enter the city as pilgrims and walk toward the great Basilica of St. Francis, beneath which lies the tomb of the saint whose footsteps have accompanied us throughout the journey.
Our final day is dedicated to Franciscan Assisi: the Basilica of St. Francis, the tomb of St. Clare, the Porziuncola, and the places associated with the final moments of Francis’ earthly life.
This is not simply a hiking tour through Italy.
It is a pilgrimage of simplicity, fraternity, prayer and conversion.
To walk the Way of St. Francis is to temporarily leave behind the noise of ordinary life and rediscover one of the questions at the heart of Franciscan spirituality:
What do I truly need in order to follow Christ?
Walking Information
This is an active pilgrimage designed for travelers comfortable walking significant distances over consecutive days.
The principal walking stages are approximately:
| Stage | Distance | Elevation Gain |
|---|---|---|
| La Verna → Pieve Santo Stefano | 15 km / 9.4 mi | +257 m |
| Pieve → Sansepolcro | 18 km / 11.2 mi | +230 m |
| Sansepolcro → Citerna | 20 km / 12.4 mi | +230 m |
| Citerna → Città di Castello | 20 km / 12.4 mi | +667 m |
| Città di Castello → Pietralunga | 28 km / 17.4 mi | +1,120 m |
| Pietralunga → Monteleto | 15 km / 9.4 mi | +704 m |
| Gubbio → Biscina | 28 km / 17.4 mi | +396 m |
| Valfabbrica → Assisi | 13 km / 8 mi | +490 m |
Total walking: approximately 157 km / 98 miles.
The distances and elevation figures above are adapted from the supplied itinerary’s walking stages.
Routes may include unpaved paths, hills, uneven terrain, forest trails and significant ascents and descents. Appropriate footwear and reasonable physical preparation are strongly recommended.
A Camino Without Carrying Your Suitcase
Being a pilgrim does not mean having to walk 157 kilometers with your suitcase on your back.
The program can be designed so that your main luggage is transported between accommodations, allowing pilgrims to walk with only a small daypack containing water, rain protection and personal essentials.
This allows us to preserve the authentic experience of a walking Camino while making the journey accessible to a broader range of pilgrims.
Designed for Catholic Groups
The Way of St. Francis can be organized as a private pilgrimage for:
Parishes · Dioceses · Franciscan Communities · Catholic Universities · Young Adult Groups · Ministries · Families · Private Catholic Groups
For parish and Catholic groups traveling with their own priest, we can coordinate daily Masses and spiritual activities around the walking itinerary.
The program can also be adapted according to the group’s physical profile, available time and spiritual priorities.
Possible variations include a shorter walking Camino, additional time in Rome, extra nights in Assisi, a Franciscan retreat component, or extensions to other important Catholic destinations in Italy.
Pilgrimage Highlights
- Rome, heart of the Catholic Church
- Sanctuary of La Verna
- Chapel of the Stigmata
- Walking through the mountains of Tuscany
- Pieve Santo Stefano
- Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Lumi
- Sansepolcro and its Holy Sepulchre tradition
- Medieval Citerna
- Città di Castello
- Pietralunga
- Abbey of St. Benedict
- Gubbio and the story of St. Francis and the Wolf
- Franciscan Path of Peace
- Valfabbrica
- Walking arrival into Assisi
- Basilica and Tomb of St. Francis
- Basilica of St. Clare
- Porziuncola
- Chapel of the Transitus
- Opportunities for daily Holy Mass and spiritual reflection
- Approximately 157 km / 98 miles of walking across Tuscany and Umbria
Important Information and Terms and Conditions
The published program is a general description and may be adjusted due to availability, operational requirements, local conditions, or the group’s needs.
By registering, each traveler confirms that they have reviewed and accepted our Terms and Conditions.
Confirmed trip details, payment information, official meetings and presentations, updates, and final travel documentation will be provided through the official WeTravel page, the final itinerary, and other communications from Pilgrim Groups Travel. Travelers are responsible for reviewing all documents, insurance provisions, entry requirements, and travel instructions provided.
Proposed Itinerary
Day 1 — USA – Rome
Our Pilgrimage Begins
Departure from your selected U.S. airport for our overnight international flight to Rome.
During our journey, we begin preparing spiritually for the days ahead and for a pilgrimage that will ask us not simply to visit the world of St. Francis, but to experience part of it on foot.
Overnight flight.
Day 2 — Arrival in Rome
Welcome to Italy
Upon arrival in Rome, we will meet our local representatives and transfer to our hotel.
Depending on flight schedules, there will be time to rest and begin experiencing the Eternal City.
We gather for our welcome dinner, meeting our fellow pilgrims and preparing for the journey ahead.
Dinner and overnight in Rome.
FROM ROME TO THE FRANCISCAN WAY
Day 3 — Rome – La Verna
Where Francis Received the Wounds of Christ
After breakfast, we leave Rome and travel north through the Italian countryside toward one of the most sacred places in Franciscan spirituality:
La Verna.
St. Francis visited this mountain sanctuary several times. In 1224, two years before his death, he withdrew here for an extended period of fasting and prayer.
It was at La Verna that Francis received the Stigmata — the wounds of the Crucified Christ in his own body.
We will have time to enter deeply into the spirituality of the sanctuary, visiting the Chapel of the Stigmata, the Basilica and the Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, as well as other places associated with Francis.
The source itinerary specifically identifies the rock associated with the reception of the Stigmata as a place of veneration at the sanctuary.
Holy Mass according to arrangements.
Tonight we rest in the silence of La Verna before beginning our Camino.
Dinner and overnight in La Verna.
OUR WALKING PILGRIMAGE BEGINS
Day 4 — La Verna – Pieve Santo Stefano
Walking Day: Approximately 15 km / 9.4 miles
Elevation: +257 m / -959 m
Today we become pilgrims on foot.
Leaving La Verna behind, we descend through the beautiful mountains of Tuscany toward Pieve Santo Stefano.
The rhythm changes immediately.
Our luggage continues ahead while we carry only what we need for the day’s walk. The countryside, forests and mountains become our surroundings as we begin to understand why walking has occupied such an important place in Christian pilgrimage for centuries.
At Pieve Santo Stefano, we encounter the tradition of the Madonna dei Lumi — Our Lady of the Lights. In 1589, according to local tradition, mysterious lights interpreted as a procession of angels were observed moving toward a sacred image of the Virgin.
The sanctuary that developed from this devotion remains an important local place of prayer.
Dinner and overnight in the area.
Day 5 — Pieve Santo Stefano – Sansepolcro
Walking Day: Approximately 18 km / 11.2 miles
Elevation: +230 m / -93 m
Today our Camino follows the landscape of the Tiber Valley toward Sansepolcro.
The town itself has pilgrimage at the heart of its identity.
According to tradition, two pilgrims, Arcano and Egidio, returned from Jerusalem carrying sacred relics and established themselves here after Arcano experienced a vision.
A sanctuary developed in honor of the Holy Sepulchre of Christ, eventually giving the town its name: Sansepolcro.
Inside the Cathedral we will also encounter the ancient Volto Santo, a medieval representation of the Crucified Christ that has been deeply venerated for centuries.
Holy Mass according to arrangements.
Dinner and overnight in Sansepolcro or the surrounding area.
Day 6 — Sansepolcro – Citerna
Walking Day: Approximately 20 km / 12.4 miles
Elevation: +230 m / -93 m
Our pilgrimage now takes us from Tuscany toward Umbria, the land most intimately associated with St. Francis.
Walking through the Tiber Valley, we eventually climb toward Citerna, a beautiful medieval hill town surrounded by ancient walls.
Tradition associates Francis himself with this area, and the town preserves a Church of St. Francis alongside other important sacred and historic monuments.
By this stage of the Camino, walking itself begins to take on a different character.
The physical effort, silence, conversations between pilgrims and daily celebration of our faith become part of a single experience.
Dinner and overnight in the Città di Castello area.
Day 7 — Citerna – Città di Castello
Walking Day: Approximately 20 km / 12.4 miles
Elevation: +667 m / -845 m
Today we continue across the hills overlooking the Tiber Valley toward Città di Castello.
Its history stretches from the ancient Umbrians through the Roman world, the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
We will have time to discover the historic city and its artistic heritage, including sacred works associated with masters such as Raphael, Luca Signorelli and Ghirlandaio.
After several days of walking, the arrival into each medieval town increasingly feels like pilgrims would have experienced it for generations: approaching slowly, seeing the town emerge in the distance and finally entering through its ancient streets.
Dinner and overnight in Città di Castello.
Day 8 — Città di Castello – Pietralunga
Walking Day: Approximately 28 km / 17.4 miles
Elevation: +1,120 m / -859 m
Today brings one of the most demanding—and potentially most rewarding—stages of our pilgrimage.
We leave the Tiber Valley and climb into the green hills of Umbria, surrounded by countryside and long stretches of silence.
Our destination is Pietralunga, a small medieval town whose Christian traditions are particularly associated with St. Crescentinus.
At approximately 28 kilometers, this is a substantial walking day and an important part of the physical challenge of the pilgrimage. The original route likewise identifies this as a 28 km stage with more than 1,100 meters of accumulated ascent.
After completing our walk, transfer according to the final hotel arrangements.
Dinner and overnight in the Gubbio area.
Day 9 — Pietralunga – Monteleto – Gubbio
Walking Day: Approximately 15 km / 9.4 miles
Elevation: +704 m / -758 m
Our pilgrimage continues toward one of the places most closely associated with the popular memory of St. Francis.
Along the route, we encounter the Abbey of St. Benedict, traditionally connected with Francis’ travels toward La Verna.
From Monteleto, we continue toward magnificent Gubbio.
It was here that one of the most beloved stories of Franciscan tradition took place.
According to the Fioretti, a fierce wolf had terrorized the people around Gubbio. Rather than destroying the animal, Francis approached it peacefully and established reconciliation between the wolf and the townspeople.
Whether contemplated as history, tradition or spiritual teaching, the story expresses something essential about Francis:
Peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It requires reconciliation.
We explore this extraordinary medieval town before retiring for the evening. The itinerary’s Franciscan connection with Gubbio and the wolf forms one of the key spiritual episodes of this stage.
Dinner and overnight in Gubbio.
Day 10 — Gubbio – Biscina
Walking Day: Approximately 28 km / 17.4 miles
Elevation: +396 m / -436 m
Today we follow part of the Franciscan Path of Peace through the Umbrian countryside.
Leaving Gubbio behind, we cross its valley and continue through rolling hills toward the area of Biscina.
The medieval Biscina Castle rises above the Chiasco Valley and provides a dramatic landmark toward the end of today’s route.
This is another substantial walking stage and one of our final challenges before Assisi.
By now, the miles walked together have created their own rhythm of fraternity, prayer and shared effort.
Tomorrow, we walk toward Assisi.
Dinner and overnight in the Gubbio area.
THE ROAD TO ASSISI
Day 11 — Valfabbrica – Assisi
Final Walking Day: Approximately 13 km / 8 miles
Elevation: +490 m / -403 m
Today is the culmination of our walking pilgrimage.
We begin around Valfabbrica, an ancient settlement associated with the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria in Vado Fabricae.
Then we begin our final walk.
The path climbs through the Umbrian landscape until, from the crest of the hills, something appears in the distance:
Assisi.
Mount Subasio rises above the city.
Gradually, the bell tower of the Basilica of St. Francis becomes visible.
After days of walking, this first sight of Assisi takes on a meaning that simply arriving by coach cannot reproduce.
We descend toward the city and traditionally enter through Porta San Giacomo — St. James’ Gate, before walking toward the great Basilica.
And there, beneath the churches built in his honor, rests St. Francis of Assisi.
The source route deliberately makes this walking arrival the culmination of the Camino, approaching Assisi from Valfabbrica and finishing in front of the Basilica of St. Francis.
Time for thanksgiving and prayer.
We have arrived.
Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 12 — Assisi
In the Footsteps of Francis & Clare
After days of walking toward Assisi, today we finally have time to encounter the city itself.
Our pilgrimage begins at the magnificent Basilica of St. Francis, where the frescoes and architecture tell the story of Franciscan spirituality through some of the greatest works of medieval Christian art.
But the heart of our visit lies below.
We descend into the crypt to pray before the Tomb of St. Francis.
We will also visit the Basilica of St. Clare, remembering the extraordinary woman who embraced Francis’ ideal of evangelical poverty and founded the community that became the Poor Clares.
Later we travel to Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Inside this enormous basilica stands a tiny chapel:
The Porziuncola.
Here Francis understood his vocation with particular clarity.
Here the early Franciscan community took shape.
And nearby, in the Chapel of the Transitus, Francis completed his earthly pilgrimage on the evening of October 3, 1226.
The source itinerary makes the Porziuncola, Transitus and tombs of Francis and Clare the spiritual focus of this final day in Assisi.
Time will be available for prayer, reflection and exploring Assisi independently.
In the evening, we gather for our farewell dinner, giving thanks for the road we have walked together.
Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 13 — Assisi – Rome Airport – USA
The Camino Ends. The Journey Continues.
After breakfast, departure toward Rome Fiumicino Airport for our return flight.
Our walking pilgrimage has ended, but Francis’ challenge remains remarkably contemporary:
to live more simply,
to recognize God in creation,
to become instruments of peace,
to care for those who are forgotten,
and above all,
to follow Christ more closely.
Return flight and end of our pilgrimage services.
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