The Cammino di San Francesco (Way of St. Francis) is a 300km walking pilgrimage from the Santuario della Verna (Tuscany — where Francis received the stigmata in 1224) to the Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi (Umbria — where he's buried). The route passes through the Casentino forests, crosses the Apennine ridge, descends into the Upper Tiber Valley, enters the Spoleto valley, and arrives in Assisi — following the geography of Francis's life. It takes 13-15 days at a comfortable pace. The terrain is moderate (no technical sections, maximum altitude ~1,200m), the accommodation is a mix of convents, agriturismi, and small hotels, and the experience — walking through rural Italy at 4km/h, eating local food, sleeping in places that haven't changed since Francis walked here — is one of the most transformative things you can do in Italy. You don't need to be religious. You need to be willing to walk. Umbria → · Tuscany →
Plan my Cammino trip →Stage 1-3: La Verna to Pieve Santo Stefano (60km): Start at the Franciscan sanctuary of La Verna (1,128m — the rocky hermitage where Francis received the stigmata, Andrea della Robbia terracotta panels). Descend through the Casentino forest (ancient beech and fir) to the Upper Tiber Valley. Stage 4-6: Pieve Santo Stefano to Città di Castello (55km): Cross the Apennine ridge (Bocca Trabaria pass, 1,049m). Enter Umbria. Arrive in Città di Castello (Palazzo Vitelli, Raphael's early work in the Pinacoteca). Stage 7-9: Città di Castello to Gubbio (65km): Through the Upper Tiber hills. Arrive in Gubbio (where Francis tamed the wolf — the Palazzo dei Consoli, the Festa dei Ceri). Stage 10-12: Gubbio to Valfabbrica (50km): The most remote section — Apennine ridges, isolated farmhouses, vast views. Stage 13-15: Valfabbrica to Assisi (30km): The final approach — descend through olive groves to the Spoleto valley. The first sight of Assisi's Basilica from the Subasio ridge is the emotional climax. Arrive at the Basilica di San Francesco. Touch the tomb.
Distance: ~300km. Duration: 13-15 days (20-25km/day). Difficulty: moderate — maintained trails, signposted (tau cross markers), no technical sections. Best time: May-June and September-October (temperatures moderate, wildflowers or harvest colors). July-August: hot. Accommodation: mix of convents (donation-based — the Franciscan tradition of hospitality), agriturismi (€35-60 half-board), small hotels (€50-80). Book ahead in summer. Credential (pilgrim passport): Obtain at La Verna — stamp it at each stage for the Testimonium (certificate) in Assisi. Guidebook: "Il Cammino di San Francesco" by Angela Serrafica (Italian) or download GPX tracks from viadifrancesco.it. Luggage transfer: Services available (€8-15/stage) — walk with a daypack while your bag moves ahead. Getting to La Verna: Bus from Arezzo (1h, LFI — infrequent). Car to Arezzo, then bus. Getting from Assisi: Train to anywhere (Rome 2h, Florence 2.5h).