walk the francis way to assisi
walk the francis way to assisi

St.Francis Way: Stage 3, Città di Castello to Assisi

Level
2
Distance
69 km
Duration
6 days | 5 nights
period
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
price from
€ 604
CO2 footprint
65 Kg/person
  1. Italy
  2.  | 
  3. Hiking Tours
  4.  | 
  5. Tourcode ITSW355

From Città di Castello, with its jewel-like buildings, to Assisi, the city from which Francesco's story began, the journey is one of beauty and spirituality.

You will discover traces of the passage of the Holy Jester in remote hermitages, chapels and crosses hidden in the middle of the greenery, immersed in the marvelous Umbrian landscape: you will walk along the ancient Franciscan path through shady woods, orchards, olive groves, and fields of barley and wheat, following in Francis' footsteps.

At the end of your journey, Assisi awaits you: a city of peace, rich in spirituality and culture. You can admire the frescoed basilicas, explore the city from an unusual perspective, and immerse yourself in ancient history with a visit to the ancient Assisi Forum.

Fans of gastronomy will also be able to enjoy the flavors of Umbrian cuisine: dishes based on simple ingredients like extra-virgin olive oil and cereals, fresh pasta topped with meat sauces, and typical desserts like torciglione. 
Traditionally passed down recipes are infused with new flavors according to the traditions of those who cook them.

Highlights

  • Take in the Umbrian hills from the top of the Civic Tower of Citta di Castello;
  • Gather in the silence of the ancient abbeys;
  • Follow in the footsteps of Francis ancient Franciscan path, surrounded by idyllic landscape;
  • Walk in the woods of Francis, an oasis of silence and nature just steps from the Basilica of Assisi.

Itinerary

Day 1

Città di Castello

Città di Castello

Your journey begins in Città di Castello, which will surprise you with its many artistic treasures: from the Palazzo del Podestà, overlooking other palaces on Piazza Matteotti, the Cathedral of San Florido, which gathers together a multitude of architectural styles. Do not miss the view of the Umbrian hills from the top of the Civic Tower, before celebrating the first day of your trip with a dish of white truffle, a prized local delicacy.

Day 2

From Città di Castello to Pietralunga, 15 km

From Città di Castello to Pietralunga, 15 km

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

Day 3

From Pietralunga to Mocaiana, transfer to Gubbio, 18 km

From Pietralunga to Mocaiana, transfer to Gubbio, 18 km

From Pietralunga you will reach Mocaiana with a transfer: from there 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.

Distance: 18 km

Elevation gain: +547/-712 m

Day 4

From Gubbio to Valfabbrica, 23 km

From Gubbio to Valfabbrica, 23 km

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

Day 5

From Valfabbrica to Assisi, 13 km

From Valfabbrica to Assisi, 13 km

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

Day 6

Assisi

Assisi

The services end after breakfast.

Details

Is this for me?


This part of the Path of St. Francis is among the most significant, because it leads to Assisi. Just the arrival in the city through the Forest of St. Francis – arriving directly in front of the Basilica, emerging from an enchanted setting into the heart of the city – would make the entire journey worthwhile. But then there's the serene and wonderful landscape, the enchanting town of Città di Castello, the perched village of Pietralunga, and the beautiful Gubbio, with its marvelous views over the Umbrian valleys.


There are some elevation changes that could be quite challenging for those on their first walking journey or who are not particularly fit; we recommend checking them and evaluating your level of preparation.

Included


What is included

  • 5 Nights in double room in **/*** hotels , B&B and agriturismi with breakfast
  • luggage transportation from hotel to hotel
  • 2 dinners (Pietralunga and Valfabbrica)
  • maps and detailed description of the itinerary in digital form, app
  • Pilgrim Passport
  • Medical and luggage travel insurance
  • 24h phone assistance

What is not included 

  • Transfers to the starting location and from the arriving location of the tour
  • lunches and dinners, if not otherwise stated
  • visits and entrance fees - tips
  • personal expense
  • possible sojourn taxes
  • everything that is not mentioned in the "What is included" section.

Optional Services

These services can be added to the ones included in the base price of the tour:

  • Single room supplement
  • cancellation insurance
  • Transfers to reach the starting location or to leave the arriving location of the tour, which will be quoted on request.
  • official camino guidebook, shipped to the first hotel
  • travel documentation in printed form (maps and detailed description of the itinerary), shipped to the first hotel

Accommodation


Hotel Le Mura Città di Castello
Hotel Le Mura - Città di Castello

The Hotel Le Mura is near the Città di Castello's walls and rooms have a nice view on the city center. The accomodations are a little dated, but these are comfortable and spacious. These offer TV, air conditioning, free WiFi. The staff is friendly and kind. Breakfast is normal. 

hotellemura.it

Hotel La Cerqua Pietralunga
Hotel La Cerqua - Pietralunga

This Hotel is an agritourism surrounded by calmness, obtained by an ancient benedectine monastery and overlooking Carpina's Valley. The charm accomodations are confortable, quiet with rustic furniture. These have private bathroom, free WiFi, TV, heating. Breakfast is genuine and bio.

www.cerqua.it

Hotel Gattapone Gubbio
Hotel Gattapone - Gubbio

Hotel Gattapone is located in the historic center of Gubbio into a medieval palace on a quiet road. Rooms are elegants, confortable and clean. These are equipped with TV, telephone with direct line, free WiFi. Breakfast is rich with salad and sweet dishes. Staff is friendly and helpful. 

www.hotelgattapone.net

B&B Sui Passi di Francesco - Valfabbrica
B&B Sui Passi di Francesco - Valfabbrica

B&B Sui Passi di Francesco is located right in the centre of Valfabbrica: it is a small and cozy B&B created with walkers of St Francis Way in mind. The atmosphere is welcoming and intimate. The B&B serves dinner, but breakfast is not included. However, being in the town of Valfabbrica there are several places nearby where you can find a good breakfast.

www.suipassidifrancesco.it

Country House Tre Esse Assisi
Country House Tre Esse - Assisi

Country House Tre Esse is located 400 m from the centre of Assisi with views of the Umbrian countryside. It's surrounded by the green and it offers an external swimming pool. Rooms are confortable and equipped in a simple way with air conditioning/heating, TV, free Wifi. Breakfast buffet is various and rich. 

www.countryhousetreesse.com

When to travel


Throughout  Central  Italy  you  can  expect temperatures  between  10°  and  25°C  in spring and autumn and they can reach 35°C in  July  and  August.  Mornings  can  be  chilly but  they  quickly  warm  up  as  the  day  goes by.  Showers  are  common  in  early  spring and from September on and throughout the autumn,  although  not  every  day  and  they tend  to  be  either  short  and  intense  or prolonged but light. Because you are by the sea, the sea breeze tends to make the long summer days less hot.

What to bring


Clothing and other items
You will need your regular walking/cycling gear, including some sort of reflective garment. For the evenings, smart outdoor style trousers (or shorts) are invaluable, as are quick-dry t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town.

Take as little as possible to avoid potentially lugging a heavy suitcase up three flights of stairs at the end of the day. Please be aware that laundromats (“Laverie”) are not common in rural areas, so plan to do handwashing of small items.

Lightweight walking shoes/ trainers
For wearing around towns & villages. They can also be a back-up pair.

Socks & underwear
Take only good quality socks with quick-dry and insulating qualities. Road test them before you go on the trip. Take a suitable quantity of underwear as washing facilities are limited.

Warm jacket, hat, gloves
Bring a fleece, Polartec or warm layers for the evenings especially in spring or autumn; be sure it is totally suitable for your needs.
A fleece jacket which blocks the wind (Wind-stopper) is the most preferable. In the summer months a lightweight jacket is suitable for evenings.
If you are cycling/walking in mountainous or coastal areas, even in the height of summer, the weather can change very quickly and unexpectedly and you should be prepared for fog, mist, rain, snow or hail at any time. Always take an extra layer with you, as well as a warm hat and gloves.

Waterproof jacket & trousers
If you are caught in heavy rain, with good waterproof clothing you should remain dry. Remember that most garments will lose their properties over time. Few will remain waterproof for more than five years and many deteriorate in three years or less. We recommend a rain jacket with a good hood and collar and waterproof or thermal walking/cycling trousers or tights.

Dress code
In general, you should wear suitable clothing when entering a church (in many places, it is considered unacceptable to go inside wearing shorts or a tank-top). We suggest that women carry a shawl to cover up bear shoulders or low-cut tops. It also comes in handy when your shoulders get sunburned!

It is considered inappropriate for men to go without a shirt / T-shirt (other than at the beach).

Trekking poles (adjustable)
Highly recommended. A pair works best, depending on what you are comfortable with. If you suffer from back or knee pain this should be considered essential. Remember to practise walking with your pole(s) on different types of terrain in the months preceding your trip.

Walking boots
The importance of good footwear cannot be stressed enough. Your boots should be sturdy and of good enough quality to handle all types of terrain. Lightweight boots, (cordura/leather boots) which have Gore-Tex or sympatex water-proofing are most suitable for this trip. They should provide good ankle protection and be well broken in. Waxing leather boots regularly prolongs their life.

Walking tops & trousers
We recommend walking trousers and shorts and quick-dry wicking t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town. Wicking T-shirts are fast drying, keep moisture away from your skin and are available at outdoor stores. You should also bring one pair of loose-fitting trousers to wear in cities and for evenings out, etc. Shorts or zip-off trousers are useful in warmer weather.

Practical info

How to arrive


From any airport, you first need to get to the railway station and then to Arezzo by train. From there, you can reach Città di Castello by bus.

For further information about trains, please visit the website www.trenitalia.it.

Mobile App


Use the SloWays APP for iOS and Android smart phones in combination with the written documentation provided.

The App has the detailed tracks and maps that you can use offline and without roaming. Thanks to the phone’s internal GPS, you can check your exact position on the map, so you always know exactly where you are. It also helps you self-navigate you way while travelling. More information on how to use the App inside the roadbook documents.

The navigation features include:

  • Offline navigation. Mobile data not required after initial download
  • Accurate GPS tracks
  • Autorotation of the maps
  • Daily route summary and elevation chart
  • Panorama of the track and at street level
  • Alarm and vibration that alerts you in case you go off track.
  • Emergency SMS button with position coordinates
  • Possibility to record and take georeferenced photos of problems on route alerting fellow travelers
  • Hotel information
  • Points of interest along the way
  • Historical background

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Wanderlust Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
Wanderlust
Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
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S-Cape Countryside Travels srl
Borgo Allegri 16R
50122 Firenze FI
P. IVA 05227330486

 
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