Florence to Sansepolcro

Stage 1 of 5

138.6km

9 days

Comfort

Popular time

october

Starting from

1100

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Good Time
Off/Low Season
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Rolling hills with varying degrees of difficulty. Bring plenty of snacks and lunch as there is ample places to picnic.

Overall

Distance:

14.9 min | 19.8km average | 25.5 max

Ascent:

287.1 min |947.9m average | 1799.2 max

Cardio:

2   2.4   3

Follow the Camino Preview Map Trip 597

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.

Florence

Florence

Florence, the cradle of the renaissance, is one of Europe’s most cultural and artistic cities. El Ponte Vecchio is the symbol of the city – a bridge covered in cute little shops crossing the Arno River. It’s an easy walk from the bridge to the fascinating Duomo, with its magnificent marble tile work and domed red roof. If you are looking for incredible views, head up to the Piazzale Michelangelo for some of the most memorable views in all of Europe.

Casentino National Park

Casentino National Park

Amazing Umbrian landscapes mixed with European forest await in this charming park. Find an ancient village hiding in the trees and keep an eye out for local wildlife. Make your way to the Camaldoli Hermitage, the birthplace of the Camaldoli order.

Santuario della Verna della costa

Santuario della Verna

This monastery built on the top of Monte Pena, one of the highest hills in the region, offers you the most incredible views over the surroundings. The place is well-known because St Francis of Assisi is said to have received his stigmata (holy wounds) there. Stand on this hilltop and breath in the fresh country air and enjoy some unmatched scenery!

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FLORENCE

SANSEPOLCRO

Starting from € 1100
 
 
 
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Services

Included in this package

Bed & Breakfast

Specially Hand-Picked Accommodation

Our Holiday or Pilgrim Pack

24/7 On-Call Support

Virtual Face-to-Face Pre-Departure Briefing

Add-On

Premium Accommodation

Airport Pick-Up

Additional Nights

Dinners

Luggage Transfers from Hotel to Hotel

Day Tours to Local Sites of Interest

Not included: Flights/trains, Insurance, Drinks/Lunch

Itinerary

Day

1

km

FLORENCE

Florence (Firenze) is the largest city and capital of the region of Tuscany. It is the birthplace of Leonardo Davinic, Galileo, and Dante. Renowned the world over as the cradle of the Renaissance, this city makes a wonderfully cultured start point to your St Francis pilgrimage to Rome. Be sure to make time to visit the domed cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Marvel at this engineering feat built by Filippo Brunelleschi, and visit one of the many museums, palaces, and churches that house the most significant artistic treasures in the world.

Day

2

23.1 km

FLORENCE PONTASSIEVE

Today you will leave the cultured haven of Florence. During your walk, find yourself returning to a simpler way of life, surrounded by the beauty of nature. Start from Florence’s Basilica of Santa Croce, enter olive groves and vineyards in an area known for its Chianti wines. Arriving into Settignano, take the opportunity to have a quick break for a morning coffee. Continue uphill with views of the valley below, then descend into the valley. Follow the Arno to Sieci where you can enjoy a picnic on the banks of the river. Climb Sieci to enjoy sweeping vistas of the surrounding hills and vineyards. Descend through the vineyards and olive groves to finish your day of walking in Pontassieve. During World War II this town suffered substantial damage and none of its mediaeval features remain. However, it is well worth visiting the Pieve di San Giovanni a Rémole where there are the remains of two frescos by Botticelli.

Day

3

17.5 km

PONTASSIEVE CONSUMA - MONTEMIGNAIO

Ascending out of Pontassieve you will be greeted with a spectacular view of the Sieve Valley and Castello di Nipozzano, a prosperous winery. If you fancy it, stop for a glass of local Tuscan wine. Climb through quiet forests and lush meadows towards your destination for tonight, Consuma. This small hamlet, with origins which can be traced back to the 15th Century, now services holidaymakers visiting the Casentino National Park.

Day

4

16.7 km

CONSUMA - MONTEMIGNAIO STIA

Today’s undulating walk is through pine and beech trees and through small towns with sweeping views of this mountainous landscape of the Upper Arno Valley. Your destination is Stia, at the foothills of Mount Falterona. Traditionally a textile manufacturing town, today (much like Consuma) it is a hub for visitors to the Casentino National Park. In the town square, there is a fresco by Pietro Annigoni that represents Saint Francis. Try the local speciality of ‘Tortello’ a traditional dish of potatoes common to the Casentino region.

Day

5

24.5 km

STIA BADIA PRATAGLIA

Today’s walk offers more stunning views. Entering the ancient Casentino Forest you will come upon the Eremo Camaldoli, a Benedictine Hermitage. A short walk from the hermitage is the village of Camaldoli, where you can stop for a break and visit the monastery. Wander through a meadow of ferns to a pleasant Beech Forest and then oak and pine forests before arriving into Badia Prataglia. This town was established in the early 11th Century and, due to the bountiful supply of wood, the local craft of woodwork flourishes.

Day

6

16.4 km

BADIA PRATAGLIA SANTUARIO DELLA VERNA

Today will be challenging but with your end stop the holy mountain retreat of St Francis it is well worth the effort. Walk through forests and fern meadows, and across creeks to sweeping views of the region. You will visit the pretty village of Rimbocchi where you will have the opportunity to relax at the small park or grab a bite to eat in the café. Climb up to the summit of Poggio Montopoli before weaving through the forest of birch trees to what is widely regarded as one of the holiest spiritual sites in all of Italy, Santuario della Verna.

Day

7

14.9 km

SANTUARIO DELLA VERNA PIEVE SANTO STEFANO

Meander the hills to a wooden cross to join part of the Grande Escursione Appenninica, a well-known route through the mountains. Get your camera ready for the steep climb to Monte Calvano and then to the summit of Monte della Modina. After this summit, the rest of the walk is downhill to Pieve Santo Stefano, which sits on the Upper Tiber River Valley. This town was destroyed during World War II, leaving it without its former mediaeval charm. However, Pieve Santo Stefano is still very pleasant to visit.

Day

8

25.5 km

PIEVE SANTO STEFANO SANSEPOLCRO

Follow the Tiber River for a while before climbing past forests and hillside farmland to enjoy the views of La Verne and Caprese Michelangelo. Winding back down to the Tiber River you will make your way to Sansepolcro. This town is the home of Buitoni Pasta, founded by Giulia Buitoni. In 1906 they built a hydroelectric power plant on the river, which allowed Sansepolcro to be the first Italian city to have electricity.

Day

9

km

SANSEPOLCRO

After breakfast, we bid you farewell, or welcome you to the next stage of the St Francis Way to Rome. While in town, you should visit the Gothic-Romanesque Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and the Museo Civico. This has a fresco by Piero della Francesca called Resurrection, a painting so significant that during World War II the town was saved from destruction by Allied artillery attack in order to preserve the painting.

How to Get There

Getting to Florence, Italy

To begin your Camino, it is best to fly into Florence Airport or Pisa.

Fly into Florence

Florence Airport is served by all the major airlines across Europe, including Iberia/BA and Aer Lingus out of Dublin. From the airport, the shuttle tram into the city centre only costs €1.50.

    Fly into Pisa

    You can fly into Pisa with a number of airlines, including Ryanair. From Pisa Airport to Florence, you can catch a direct bus (this will take an hour). Alternatively, you can catch a tram to Pisa Centrale train station and then head for Florence Santa Maria Novella (1 hour and 40 minute journey time).

      Getting home from Sansepolcro, Italy

      It is easiest to return from Sansepolcro via Florence Airport.

      Fly home from Florence

      In Sansepolcro, head for Via Marconi (Autostazione) and catch the bus to Arezzo. Then, switch to the local train station and head for Florence’s main station. From there, it’s easy to get the shuttle tram to the airport. This journey takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes.

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        Rolling hills with varying degrees of difficulty. Bring plenty of snacks and lunch as there is ample places to picnic.
        January Off season
        February Off season
        March Off season
        April Off season
        July Good time
        August Good time
        November Off season
        December Off season