St. Francis Way, From Chiusi della Verna to Assisi

Head for the hotel and check in: if you arrive early enough, you can visit the Franciscan Sanctuary in the afternoon. The Sanctuary is opened every day of the year from 06:30 to 19:30 hrs (22:00 hrs in summer) To enter the Sanctuary, you need to cover your chest and arms and wear trousers / skirts long to the knee 

Walk along the edge of the Catenaia “Alps” between the Arno and Tiber valleys. During the day, enjoy the many panoramic points overlooking the Casentino and Valtiberina valley.

Distance: 12,5 km

Elevation gain: +405/-740 m

Walk on paths and dirt roads along the Valtiberina valley enjoying breath-taking views. Walk through the countryside surrounding Anghiari and cross castle topped hills, ancient parish churches and medieval villages and hamlets. The landscape is beautiful and the vast views are amazing; looking west it’s easy to recognise the imposing of Alpe di Poti mountain chain, in the north the Alpe di Catenaia, towards south the flat plain of the Tiber river and east the Alpe della Luna. Once you arrive in Anghiari visit this amazing medieval hamlet and have a drink in “Giardini del Vicario” at Piazza del Popolo. It’s a lovely cafè-wine bar with a wonderful view over the valley.

Distance: 18 km

Elevation gain: +450/-560 m

A short morning transfer will take you to Sansepolcro. Today’s walk is a long promenade in the valley, following the course of the Tiber River. The itinerary links the two most important towns of Valtiberina; leaving the centre of Sansepolcro you can immerse yourself in this rich countryside and spend many hours among corn, wheat and tobacco fields, pastures and country houses.

Distance: 13,5 km

Elevation gain: +300/-140 m

Following the river Tiber, the itinerary crosses one of most cultivated valleys in Italy (Valtiberina). The most important and famous product is tobacco used for the production of Tuscan cigars. Today’s walk is completely flat and runs along country roads or paths parallel to the river; fields and pastures alternate with preserved bank vegetation with by poplars and willows. In this area it is easy to see many birds of prey or water birds as Kestrel, Montagu’s Harrier, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Night-Heron and Moorhen.

Distance: 20 km

Elevation gain: +670/-800 m

The day begins with a transfer to the starting point of the stage: you can choose from two different locations, shortening or lengthening the path accordingly. The route winds through woods and wide gravel roads up to Pietralunga, a village perched on a hill high 566 meters. Here you can wander through the narrow streets of the medieval center, admire the frescoes in the church of Santa Maria and the remains of the ancient Lombard fortress, positioned right in the middle of the square. Finally, enjoy a good home-cooked meal in the farm that will host you for the night.

Distance: 15 km

Elevation gain: +614/-655 m

From Pietralunga you will reach Mocaiana: you will face a scenic route passing through ancient abbeys, once an important reference point for pilgrims: among them, St. Benedict: founded in the tenth century by an hermit monk. You continue on forest roads up to Ponte San Giorgio, where you will be picked up and transported to Gubbio. From Piazza Grande, dominated by the majestic Palazzo dei Consoli, you will enjoy a magnificent view over the old town. You can walk under the high arches of the Cathedral or browse through the pottery workshops throughout the city center but do not miss the well-preserved Roman theater: if you are lucky, you can even watch a show or a concert. From Mocaiana a transfer will take you to Gubbio.

Distance: 18 km

Elevation gain: +547/-712 m

After a short bus ride to the Castle of Petroia, you regain your way through the Umbrian countryside. The stretch towards Valfabbrica follows the original "Franciscan Path of Peace", a leg walked by Francis himself, and will test you with its many ups and downs. But the effort will be rewarded by the beautiful landscape: you will walk through the valley of the river Chiascio, surrounded by castles and old farms perched on the hills, and if the weather is good you might even see the outline of Mount Subasio.

Distance: 23 km

Elevation gain: +336/-336 m

Today you will continue down the Franciscan path, for the last stage of your journey to Assisi: the path winds through roads and pine forests to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, from where you will face a final climb up to cross Porta San Giacomo, finishing your path in front of the Basilica of San Francesco. Despite the many visitors, Assisi is always pervaded with great peace: experience this sensation with a walk in the forest of Saint Francis (belonging to FAI - Italian Environment Fund), let yourself be guided by a friar to discover the cathedrals, and if you're interested in ancient history go to discover the amazing roman Assisi. To celebrate the end of your trip, enjoy the sweet Rocciata, an Umbrian variant of strudel.

Distance: 13 km

Elevation gain: +578/-498 m

The services end after breakfast.

For our trips, we always choose accommodation with private rooms and private bathrooms. In rare cases, shared accommodations or shared bathrooms may be provided, so we recommend carefully checking the inclusions section to understand the type of accommodation included in the trip you are interested in.  

We place great importance on the choice of accommodations and select hotels with care and attention. We understand how essential it is to rest well after a day of walking. We always prefer cozy and characteristic establishments, preferably family-run, that fully embody the spirit of the place and offer hospitality with courtesy and comfort.  

Where, due to the nature of the route, accommodation options are limited, we choose the one that best aligns with our standards.

This itinerary is ideal if you’re looking for a medium-length walking journey that feels complete and immersive, without extreme distances. At around 10 days, it allows you to settle into the rhythm of the walk and experience the route in depth.

The trail features moderate elevation changes, well-marked paths and a wide variety of landscapes. It is suitable for walkers with good general fitness, even without long-distance walking experience. Luggage transfers are included, allowing you to walk with just a daypack and enjoy the journey comfortably.

This trip is perfect if you:

• enjoy walking through nature and historic landscapes
• prefer quieter routes away from busy tourist trails
• are looking for a meaningful journey, cultural rather than religious