Saint Francis Way

Beginning in Florence, the first section of St. Francis Way will take you through rolling Tuscan hills and valleys. Don’t miss the opportunity to capture the serenity of the lush countryside, enjoy a variety of local Italian cuisine, or the chance to visit the most revered location of Santuario della Verna, a Francisan sanctuary located atop Mount Penna.

The green forests, mediaeval hilltop towns, classic vineyards, and lush olive groves of this St Francis Way section highlight the undulating Italian landscape. During this tour, you will leave behind the historic region of Tuscany and enter the beautiful region of Umbria, while enjoying the story of St Francis across your route through rural landscapes and ancient towns alike.

The trip begins in Assisi, home of St Francis, and will lead you on a captivating tour of Umbria and parts of Lazio. This section of the tour includes a stop at Rieti, the site of the ‘Miracle of Wine’ where St Francis miraculously doubled the crop of local vineyards in the 13 Century. So, it only makes sense that you sit back and enjoy a wonderful Colli della Sabina D.O.C. wine.

This final section of the St Francis Way takes you from the Apennine mountain range down into the fertile Tiber Valley plain along quiet tree-lined paths. Eventually, you will be leaving behind the remote Italian countryside as you arrive into the busy outer-suburbs of Rome and head for the final destination: the historic Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican City.

The St. Francis Way, stretching from Florence to Rome, offers pilgrims a spiritual journey through picturesque landscapes and historic towns, following in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi.