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The Via di Francesco: A 13-Day Hiking Trail Through Tuscany and Umbria
The Via di Francesco (St. Francis Route) is not a true pilgrimage route. Until a few years ago, there had never even been any pilgrims following in the footsteps of St. Francis. The route simply connects theplaces that were important in the life of St. Francis.
The route follows the ancient Roman roads from Florence to Rome. We walked part of the beautiful hiking trail from the mystical monastery of La Verna in Tuscany to the art-rich city of Assisi in Umbria.
A beautiful route if you’re looking for peace and reflection. We describe the route from La Verna to Assisi as a 13-day hiking trip from the La Verna monastery in Tuscany to Assisi in Umbria. You can plan it yourself or join an organized hike through a local specialist. Read more about that below.
Highlights of the Via di Francesco
La Verna Monastery
Sansepolcro & Piero della Francesca
Gubbio
Assisi
Saint Francis
Saint Francis of Assisi, known for his humble and simple way of life, is a revolutionary figure in the history of Christianity. At a time when the Church of Rome was the center of the papacy’s secular power—and had a dubious reputation for amassing wealth—he preached poverty and brotherly love for everyone on earth.
Hiking from La Verna to Assisi
You’ll begin your walking tour at the impressive, mystical monastery of La Verna. This is the place where St. Francis is said to have received the “stigmata.” The walking tour ends in Assisi, where he is buried. Along the way, you’ll pass several smaller monasteries and abbeys where the saint stayed during his travels and where, according to legend, miracles were performed—such as the taming of a ferocious wolf in Gubbio…
Day 1: Visit the La Verna Monastery
You can reach the abbey by direct bus from Arezzo (during the summer months) or by car. The monastery stands out against the rugged landscape of the Casentino Mountains. The mystical atmosphere of the place makes for a wonderful start to this hike. The place made a huge impression on me—both the monastery itself and the wooded surroundings. Spend the night in the monastery’s simple but comfortable rooms.
Day 2: Hike from La Verna to Pieve Santo Stefano
Distance 14.9 km | Ascent 221 m, Descent 924 m
The hike follows trails throughout and is manageable, with some elevation changes. The first part winds through dense forests, but later the trail climbs along a ridge with open valleys on both sides. The landscape becomes gentler and more pleasant.
Pieve Santo Stefano is a charming little town; you can admire Della Robbia’s terracotta sculptures in the cathedral and the town hall.
Day 3: From Pieve Santo Stefano to La Montagna
Distance 22.7 km | Ascent 786 m, Descent 467 m
A day of hiking through unspoiled countryside, winding through forests and narrow valleys. The hike follows mainly unpaved trails, which can, however, get very muddy when it rains. A short detour allows you to visit the Eremo del Cerbaiolo. The Eremo di Cerbaiolo is one of the mystical hermitages dedicated to St. Francis. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, yet its original simplicity has been preserved. Overnight stay at a B&B.
Day 4: Hike from La Montagna to San Sepolcro
Distance: 11.3 km | 161 m climb, 496 m descent
A short day through beautiful oak forests. In San Sepolcro, you can enjoy the finest exhibition of Piero della Francesca’s work at the Museo Civico.
Restaurant recommendation in San Sepolcro: Ristorante Fiorentino, serving traditional, local dishes
Day 5: Hike from San Sepolcro to Monterchi
Distance: 14.3 km | 230 m climb, 258 m descent
This stage has been split into two parts to make it manageable for the average hiker. You’ll stop at a farm near Monterchi.
A short detour will take you to the center of this charming little town, where you can admire Piero della Francesca’s famous fresco, “La Madonna del parto.”
Day 6: Hike from Monterchi to Città di Castello
Distance: 18 km | 615 m climb, 637 m descent
The trail winds through forests and green valleys, offering beautiful views of the Tiber Valley and the characteristic Umbrian landscape. You’ll reach the Eremo del Buon Riposo, where St. Francis used to stop.
The final destination is Città di Castello, the hometown of Alberto Burri, one of Italy’s greatest modern artists. His work is on display in the city’s two museums. Be sure not to miss the beautiful Museo Diocesano.
Day 7: Hike from Città di Castello to Pietralunga
Distance: 31.1 km |885 m climb, 611 m descent
This is a long day of hiking, with the option of a transfer from Pieve a Saddi (20 km).
Note: This stage is very long, but there are no accommodations along the way. If you think 31 km is too much for you, the owner of the hotel in Pietralunga will be happy to pick you up halfway.
Day 8: Hike from Pietralunga to Mocaiana
Distance: 15.6 km | 490 m climb, 508 m descent
Today, the trail winds its way through rolling hills, past a beautiful lake, and begins to descend toward the plains. To take a break, you’ll spend the night at a lovely agriturismo along the way.
Day 9: Hike from Mocaiana to Gubbio
Distance: 11.2 km | 170 m descent, 176 m ascent
Gubbio is one of the most beautiful cities in Umbria. It has preserved its medieval atmosphere with narrow cobblestone streets, artisan workshops, and a magnificent town hall. Avoid the town on May 15, unless you really love crowds and want to take part in one of Italy’s wildest medieval festivals: the Ceri Festival.
Day 10: Hike from Gubbio to Castello di Biscina
Distance: 22.5 km | 606 m ascent, 597 m descent
An intense day of hiking with plenty of ups and downs. You’ll end up at an old castle overlooking the Valle del Chiascio. The castle is an imposing ruin that’s open to the public.
Day 11: Hike from Biscina to Valfabbrica
Distance: 15.8 km | 303 m climb, 545 m descent
A fairly easy day of hiking that follows the Valle del Chiascio, mostly downhill. Unfortunately, the valley has been ruined by the construction of a large dam that subsequently proved unusable due to poor construction quality.
The view of the meandering river from the surrounding hill is still impressive. Valfabbrica is a lively little town where you can stop for a cappuccino before reaching your hotel outside of town via the trail.
Day 12: Hike from Valfabbrica to Assisi
Distance: 13.7 km | 451 m climb, 388 m descent
The start is a bit tough, but it gets easier after that. Rolling hills and dense forests, and a fantastic finish with a breathtaking view of Assisi.
In the first section, the landscape is still rugged and barren, and the southern slopes are dotted with the first olive groves. Spend the night in a charming “locanda” in the city center, just a few meters from the basilica.
Day 13: Walking in and around Assisi
Eremo-delle-Carceri Loop 9.8 km | 469 m climb, 476 m descent
A relaxing day in Assisi. If you’d like to go for a walk, you can take a 3-hour loop hike. Start with the climb to Eremo delle Carceri, a peaceful retreat for St. Francis (at the top of the trail, 500 meters from the Eremo, there’s a lovely picnic spot).
A great alternative is a day trip through beautiful Assisi, with its stunning basilica and many other sights.
Practical Tips for Hiking the Via di Francesco
You can reach La Verna by car; during the summer months, there is a bus from Arezzo (it gets crowded on weekends).
From Assisi, you can take the train back to Arezzo and, if you like, take a taxi from there to La Verna to pick up your car. You can also book a transfer if you’re taking an organized tour.
The route is well marked. In Tuscany, follow the white and red signs. In Umbria, follow the blue and yellow signs or stripes and the yellow letter “T.”
Note: You can take a rest day in San Sepolcro, Città di Castello, or Gubbio
This hiking trip requires a good level of fitness, and sturdy hiking boots are essential
Would you like to hike this route but leave the planning to someone else? If so, you can also take an organized tour. You’ll need to arrange your own transportation to La Verna.
The price is €1,700 per person.
The following is included:
12 nights (in 3-star accommodations)
12 breakfasts (dinners available upon request)
24/7 Emergency Number
GPS files
Luggage Transport
Pilgrim “Credential”
Double rooms with private bathrooms in 3-star hotels, B&Bs, or agriturismos
In your welcome package, you’ll receive vouchers for each hotel
Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
GPX routes in a user-friendly app
Not included
Dinners
Single Room Surcharge
Tip
Transfer from Assisi back to La Verna
Request a quote: Hiking the Via di Francesco from La Verna to Assisi
When you request a quote, we’ll forward it to our local partner, who will confirm it directly with you if approved. You’ll pay the same price as if you were booking directly. You’ll handle the rest of the booking and payment directly with the local provider (with whom we have a good working relationship and established agreements). We’re always available to answer any questions you may have.
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
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A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.
We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.
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We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.
Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.
Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again.
Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat.
I highly recommend them!
Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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