Imagine walking through medieval and Renaissance hilltop towns in Tuscany and Umbria in the heart of Italy. These ancient pilgrim trails weave through rolling cypress-lined Tuscan hills, past local vineyards and leafy olive groves heading to the second most famous Christian pilgrimage destination: The Vatican City in Rome.
We offer different options on the two most famous routes: The Via Francigena and The Way of St Francis also known as the La Via di Francesco. You can book your own self-guided and tailor-made trip, or join a group.
The two Italian pilgrimage routes should not be confused. The Via Francigena follows roughly around 2050km starting in Canterbury England, all the way to Rome, through France, Switzerland and Italy. We currently focus on the last 400km section through the Tuscany and Lazio regions – from Lucca to Rome. Much like the Camino de Santiago ends at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, the Via Francigena ends at the Vatican City in Rome.
On the other hand, the Way of St. Francis or La Via di Francesco is a modern Italian pilgrimage, that celebrates the beloved Patron Saint of Italy, the founder of the Franciscan order of monks and best known as St. Francis of Assisi. This humble man who lived over 800 years ago, was a lover of animals and nature, used “Sister Mother Earth” as his monastery, and lived the simplest and most dedicated of lives.
The route to Assisi has two options: leaving from the North (Florence to Sansepolgro or Sansepolgro to Assisi) OR from the South (Rome to Rieti or Reiti to Assisi).
With spectacular vistas, the weathered earth-coloured roofs of stone houses and the most beautiful landscapes, you will be transported back to the 13th century, the time of St. Francis.
IMPORTANT to consider
Both these routes are quite challenging and only suitable for seasoned hikers. Challenges are mainly related to stage length and steep altitude differences.