A family in trekking clothes walks along the Way of St. Francis, with a trail marker painted in the shape of a T on a cypress tree.
Le Chemin de saint François

The Way of St. Francis - Northern Route from La Verna to Assisi following in the footsteps of St. Francis

The Way of St. Francis: The Umbrian stages of the Northern Route

The Way of St. Francis is a pilgrimage route with Assisi as its destination. It is an intense physical and spiritual journey, following in the footsteps of the Saint, best undertaken at a slow pace to rediscover one's path.

The proposed itinerary starts from Citerna, the first Umbrian stage. The route can also be traveled by bike or on horseback, with trails suitable for all needs, skills, and levels of difficulty.

The section, which crosses the Upper Tiber Valley, unfolds in a gentle landscape of hills and plains. From the splendid hilltop village of Citerna, following dirt and partially paved roads, you reach Città di Castello.

From here begins a peaceful path with ascents and descents through Umbrian woods and countryside. You pass through places such as Pieve de’ Saddi, an important spiritual center of the mountainous area for centuries, Pietralunga, and then proceed towards Gubbio, passing abbeys, churches, and coniferous forests.

From Gubbio to Valfabbrica, the route becomes more challenging, with constant ups and downs, mostly through woods.

On the final stage, you finally arrive in Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the Basilica of St. Francis, you will find artistic masterpieces, including the frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue, and Simone Martini. The city itself is an example of continuity as a sanctuary city throughout its Umbrian-Roman-medieval history, and up to the present day. Assisi embodies the Franciscan message of peace, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue.

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