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Tuscany-Saint Francis pilgrim's trail
- The wild slopes of Apennines and the best preserved forests in Europe
- Hills, country houses, cypress lines, olive grows and all other elements of typical rural landscape
- The Sanctuary of La Verna and the town of Assisi with their long history and extraordinary artistic richness
- The medieval towns of Anghiari, Città di Castello and Spello where the time seems to be stopped
- The renaissance and noble town of San Sepolcro
- Small, comfortable, family run accommodations
- Friendly people, quiet foot paths and gravel roads
From: 590 €
Tripcode: ITSW160
3 Comfort
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
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2 Difficulty
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
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Duration: 8 days
Details
From Tuscani to Assisi inn to inn
During the obscure times of the middle ages an enlightened man walked along the ridges and valleys of the Apennines, looking for God's signs in nature and talking to people about peace, humility and brotherhood. He was Francis of Assisi a mystical personage who fascinates, even now, people from all countries; his charisma and philosophy are recognized, also, by all religions of the World.
Thanks to this trip you can follow the routes which Saint Francis covered during his frequent pilgrimages between the area of La Verna (where he received the stigmata ), and the area of Assisi (where he was born and died); you can discover hidden evidences of his passage, such as Franciscan hermitages, chapels, crosses, walking inside forests and the typical countryside landscape of Tuscany and Umbria.
Apart from amazing places for religion and nature, along the Franciscan Path is possible to get in touch with history and culture, as well as taste the traditional recipes from the local poor cuisine.
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Arrive in Chiusi della Verna
Arrive in Chiusi della Verna, a quiet hamlet at the base of La Verna Mountain. After checking in to your hotel, walk along the medieval path to the Franciscan Sanctuary of La Verna and the ancient forest around; discover the many secrets of the Sanctuary and the signs of Saint Francis.
Villages along the way: Chiusi della Verna
Day 2: Chiusi della Verna to Fonte della Galletta
Walk along the edge of the Catenaia Alps between the Arno and Tiber valleys. Rest at Casella Hermitage, built in the point where Saint Francis last time looked at his holy mountain coming back to Assisi. Enjoy the several panoramic points over Casentino and Valtiberina and watch the other mountain chain around with the most important picks.
Challenge: 10 km, 880m ascending, 600m descending, 5 hours
Villages along the way: Caprese Michelangelo
Day 3: Fonte della Galletta to Anghiari
Enjoy to day's walk through the woods of Catenaia Alps to the amazing town of Anghiari. Descend from the top of the mountain, along a wild trail and observe the change of typical vegetation (beech and chestnut trees to oaks). Cross the Monti Rognosi, impressive hills composed by magmatic rocks. Discover interesting places according to local tradition and superstition. Admire the vast Montedoglio Lake and the Valley of Tiber River.
Challenge: 16 km, 200m ascending, 1400m descending, 6.0 hours
Villages along the way: Anghiari
Day 4: Anghiari round walk and San Sepolcro
Walk in the countryside around Anghiari along panoramic gravel roads. Discover medieval churches as the Pieve di Sovara. A short extension allows getting the amazing Galbino Castle, built in the 16th century. After the walk you will be transferred to San Sepolcro; according to the legend this town was founded by two pilgrims returning from the Holy Land with a fragment of Christ's tomb and they chose the place as a shrine for this relict. The name Sansepolcro comes from Santo Sepolcro which means "holy sepulchre". We recommend to walk inside this noble town and taste typical products.
Challenge: 15 km, 340m ascending, 795m descending, 5.0 hours
Day 5: San Sepolcro to Città di Castello
Following the Tiber River, the itinerary crosses one of most cultivated valleys in Italy, the Valtiberina. The local important and famous product is tobacco which is used for the production of Tuscan cigars. The to day's walk is completely flat and runs along country roads or parallel paths to the river; fields and pastures alternate with preserved bank vegetation composed by poplars and willows. In this kinds of environments it is easy to see many birds of prey or water birds as Kestrel, Montagu's Harrier, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Night-Heron, Moorhen etc..
Challenge: 19 km, 0m ascending, 0m descending, 6 hours
Villages along the way: San Sepolcro
Day 6: Valfabbrica to Assisi
You get the hamlet of Valfabbrica by taxi and start to follow the Strada Francescana della Pace; this itinerary runs along the typical hills of Umbria, rich in clay and sand soil. The walk is quite demanding whit some hard slopes which get impressive panoramic point; you can avoid one harder section follow instructions. In the last part you sight Assisi from a top of hills; the walk passes directly from the countryside to the centre of the town. It is strictly recommend walking in the town enjoying its history, art and structure.
Challenge: 12 km, 615m ascending, 956m descending, 5 hours
Villages along the way: Assisi
Day 7: Eremo delle Carceri to Spello
Both the itineraries to day, take you across the Subasio Mountain from the north side to the south side, leaving from the Eremo delle Carceri to Spello. You will enjoy wonderful landscapes along the routes covered by Saint Francis during his pilgrimages; it is a trip inside wilderness and spirituality, discovering pleasant hermitages and hamlets.
Challenge: Itinerary 1: 8 km, 473m ascendnig, 940m descending, 3 hours
Itinerary 2: 14 km, 524m ascending, 1015m descending, 5 hours
Villages along the way: Eremo delle Carceri and Spello
Day 8: Arrivederci Assisi!
The trip and our services end after breakfast.
Practical info
Included:
- 7 night accommodation on bed and breakfast basis in 3* hotel or equivalent farm houses
- 4 dinners in La Verna, Fonte della Galletta, Anghiari and Sansepolcro
- People transfer from Anghiari to Sansepolcro on Day 4
- People transfer from Città di Castello to Valfabbrica on Day 6
- People transfer from Assisi to Eremo delle Carceri on Day 7
- Luggage transfer from La Verna to Assisi from day 2 to day 6
- 24-hour telephone assistance, just a phone call away
- Detailed road book and maps in English
Not Included:
- Flights and public transportation
- Travel insurance
- Admissions and entrance fees of any kind
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses such as lunch, dinner, snacks, wine tasting, drinks, phone calls, etc.
- Any item that has not been specifically mentioned in the program
Optional Services:
- Airport or train station arrival and/or departure transfers
- Guided tour of any of the villages along the way with a local city guide
Extra Overnight:
Additional night/s at any of the accommodations along the way or in any other destination in Italy like Pisa, Florence, Siena or Rome.
Getting there and away:
Rome, Florence and Pisa Airports are served by both major and low cost carriers. There are several trains per day from all 3 destinations, going to Arezzo, where you change train to Bibbiena and then a bus to Chiusi della Verna. It is possible to book a transfer from Arezzo to Chiusi della Verna, or from Assisi to Rome or Florence.
Reviews
Start: Chiusi della Verna
Finish: Assisi
Dates & prices
Trip availability: 5th April - 5th November
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 590 €/person |
| twin room: | 730 €/person |
| double room: | 730 €/person |
| single room: | 840 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 1030 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 590 €/person |
| double room: | 730 €/person |
| twin room: | 730 €/person |
| single room: | 840 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 1030 €/person |