Via di Francesco: Assisi to Rome
The Via di Francesco is a beautiful, green, and mountainous walk and it takes training and discipline to enjoy it. But the quiet and tranquility that St Francis loved is found on this walk, perhaps more than any other walk in Europe, and the combination of physical challenge and solitude make it a very dear experience for people who are physically and spiritually ready. Between Assisi and Rieti there are nearly daily reminders of the presence of the Saint, and from Rieti to Rome are many quaint and historic villages typical of the Sabine area of Lazio that are easy to love. At journey’s end is the Eternal City, filled with churches and ruins, fountains and monuments that are a must-see for anyone hoping to experience one of the world’s greatest cities
Daily Schedule – Assisi to Rome:
Day 1. Arrive in Assisi Settle into your room. Relax and enjoy! You’re in one of Italy’s most beautiful and beloved hill towns. Return to Top
Day 2. Rest Day Assisi. Since you’re in such a beautiful place, we’ve included a day to enjoy yourself. You can focus on Sts. Francis and Clare by visiting the churches related to them, or you can enjoy Assisi’s fortifications by taking a walk up to Rocca Maggiore. Maybe you just want to relax after your travel and have dinner, followed by sunset watching at Piazza Santa Chiara. Return to Top
Day 3. Walk to Spello (17.6km). Two marked trails, one easier and one spectacular! Walk up to Eremo delle Carceri, a favorite refuge of St Francis, and make your choice. We recommend the higher path, which takes you to the pastures of the wild horses atop Monte Subasio. From here you can enjoy views from above Assisi and down into the Spoleto Valley below. After this unforgettable panorama, continue on Monte Subasio toward beautiful Spello, itself a fine medieval village near the valley floor. Return to Top
Day 4. Walk to Trevi (19.1km). St Francis sold his father’s goods at Foligno to raise money to rebuild Assisi’s San Damiano. After leaving Spello you’ll soon find yourself in central Foligno, which retains its charm even though it was mostly destroyed in WWII. Afterward climb through olive orchards to the hilltop village of Trevi with its spectacular views of the valley and mountains beyond. Return to Top
Day 5. Walk to Poreta. Although it’s possible from Trevi to shortcut down to the valley floor for a flat (and tedious) walk on the bike path to Spello, it’s much more beautiful to walk along the mountainside and visit the castles and convents along the way. Return to Top
Day 6. Walk to Spoleto. A short walking day along the last of the hillsides before Spoleto gives more time to enjoy this world-class city that each year hosts the Due Mondi classical music festival that attracts music lovers from around the world. Head to the Duomo to find an original letter of St Francis written in his own hand, or head up to the fortress to admire its medieval fortifications and views of the valley below. Spello is a gastronomic paradise. We recommend one of the town’s many fine restaurants and a sample of the Montefalco vintage, Sagrantino, originated among the Franciscans as wine for the eucharist, but now beloved by locals and others for its robust flavor. Return to Top
Day 7. Walk to Macenano. Now the path leaves the Spoleto Valley and heads up past the Franciscan sanctuary of Monteluco in one of its most memorable stages. As you begin walking down the gorge, fantastic views open of the nearby mountains. Finally at Ceselli and then Macenano you’ve earned your delicious dinner at your lodging for the night. If there’s time, head up the hill to view Abbazia di San Pietro in Valle, one of the best preserved monasteries in the region, now a luxury hotel. Return to Top
Day 8. Walk to Arrone/Casteldilago. Today’s short stage gives you time to recover after your many long walks. Enjoy Arrone, a little-know hilltop town, and then continue in about 2 kilometers to its twin, Casteldilago for your last overnight in the beautiful Nera Valley. If there’s time, ask to see the museum of archaeological discoveries recently found here – a treasure trove of pottery bits painstakingly pieced together to show what life was like here in the late Middle Ages. Return to Top
Day 9. Walk to Piediluco (15.2km). Few sites in Italy are as spectacular as the Marmore Falls, which Romans created to relieve flooding in the Velino River above. Now a hydroelectric facility, you can time your entrace at the falls to coincide with the release of water from above. Walk the stairs up to the top of the falls and continue on a flat route along a canal to Piediluco, home to the Italian national crew team and site of a visit by St Francis. Return to Top
Day 10. Walk to Poggio Bustone (21.8km). Today’s route follows an ancient legend of a tree which twisted itself to shelter St Francis in a storm. Though the faggio (birch) tree is gone, the unusual, bent trunk of its twisted offspring remains. The walk to this mountaintop is memorable in its relentless uphill, but the place of quiet at the foot of the Faggio di San Francesco is a memorable oasis of calm. Head downhill afterward to enjoy another Franciscan sanctuary at hillside Poggio Bustone, where in a nearby cave Francis had the dreams that inspired his ministry. Return to Top
Day 11. Walk to Rieti (17.7km). Continue back to the valley floor, now aptly named “The Holy Valley,” which holds three additional Franciscan sanctuaries. Pass through La Foresta, one of them, on the way to Rieti, an ancient town on the Roman Salt Road. Return to Top
Day 12. Rest day in Rieti. You’ve walked quite a way and it’s time to rest and recover. However, if you have the energy, you could take a taxi or train to the Sanctuary of Greccio, where Francis created the first crêche scene at Christmas. Stroll through the museum that houses dozens of manger scenes which have been sent here from around the world. Return to Top
Day 13. Walk to Poggio San Lorenzo (21.8km). Now rested, you head back into the countryside, this time in the rolling hills of Sabina, a region well-known for its olive oil. After a mostly-flat walk, the day ends at Poggio San Lorenzo, an modern village with ancient, Roman roots. Return to Top
Day 14. Walk to Ponticelli (21.6km). This and the next day include steep but short uphills climbs as you move from one valley to the next. Pass Monteleone today, with its church of San Vittorino and its Roman city ruins. Ponticelli looks out over the Scandriglia region, with mighty Castello Orsini guarding the way. Return to Top
Day 15. Walk to Monterotondo (29.8km). Ups and downs lead to this bedroom community of Rome that has a charming historic center filled with strolling couples and soccer-playing children. It’s not too soon to have a celebratory gelato since you’re very near Rome. Return to Top
Day 16. Walk to Monte Sacro (19.3km). On a ridge just outside Monterotondo you catch your first glimpse of the dome of St Peter’s Basilica. Even though you’re nearing one of Italy’s largest cities, you are still surrounded by countryside as you make your way through the green and rolling hills of the Marcigliana Nature Reserve. The last ½ day brings you on suburban sidewalks to Monte Sacro, a suburb of busy Rome. Return to Top
Day 17. Walk to Vatican City (15.4km). The official route takes you along bicycle paths that keep you away from urban noise and hubbub. The paths follow the Tiber River after the Villa Ada park, and soon you are at the gates of Vatican City. Congratulations, you’ve completed your journey and are now in one of the greatest and most historic cities of the world, onetime capital of Western Europe and now home to the center of the Roman Catholic Church.
Day 18. Rest day in Rome. We’ve included another day for your to explore Rome. Enjoy its ecclesiastical sites, its museums, its Roman sites, its fountains and piazza, or a little bit of everything. Make certain to toss a coin into Trevi Fountain and join in the chorus, “Next year in Rome!”
Day 19. Depart from Rome for further adventures.
Map – Assisi to Rome
Accommodation options
All Pilgrim Paths package itineraries select private single or double rooms in pilgrim hostels or simple hotels so you get the best rest possible to prepare for the coming day’s walk.
Standard Level Accommodation
Medium grade lodging; carry your own backpack
Standard Level Plus+ Accommodation Packages
Upgraded lodging; baggage transport service included
Terms and Conditions
At registration, all Package Trek participants must affirm they have read and understood the Terms and Conditions listed below:
Nature of Pilgrimage and Accommodations: Pilgrim Paths organizes religious and cultural travel itineraries in the pilgrimage walking tradition. Accommodation prices are based on single and/or double occupancy and these itineraries will utilize a range of accommodation ranging from pilgrim hostels where no hotel is available to 3-star hotels in larger cities. Return to Top
Package Trek Participant Responsibilities: As a Package Trek participant you have responsibilities, including:
- Selecting a walk appropriate to your interests and abilities and being in sufficient good health and fitness to do the walk. If you have any medical or physical conditions that are likely to affect your capability to do this walk, you must submit a letter from your medical doctor stating that you are capable of participating in this walk.
- Preparing for your walk by reading all the information on the website and material sent to you by Pilgrim Paths, especially that relating to the daily walking stages, accommodation and transport, and
- Respecting the laws, health regulations, customs, traditions, and culture of the areas visited. Return to Top
Passports and Visas: Participants must carry with them a valid passport with at least six months of validity and the necessary visa as required by local law. Any information from Pilgrim Paths regarding visa applications is only a guideline. The participant is responsible for all necessary visa and legal documentations, noting that European Union (Schengen) visa requirements apply and may vary depending on your country of origin. Return to Top
Price: The Package Trek price per does not include ground transportation to and from the origin and destination. Luggage transfer service is included only when specified (usually in our Standard Level Plus+ package). Price includes lodging (per person at double-occupancy or single lodging); a guidebook, and credential. The price does not include airfare, meals, recommended travel insurance, personal expenses, or anything not expressly stated on the itinerary. When a guide is provided, a tip at the end of the walk is customary. Return to Top
Payment Information: A deposit of 33% is required to secure a reservation and €500 of the deposit is non-refundable but transferable to another Pilgrim Paths itinerary. The final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Payment can be made by e-commerce site (with additional fees), personal check or wire transfer (bank fees from the sending bank apply). Trip prices and costs are listed in Euros and translation to other currencies is to be based on Google Finance conversion rates, which fluctuate daily. Return to Top
Changes and Cancellations:
Once the itinerary pricing has been confirmed by the participant and the deposit and final payment have been received, we ask that no further changes to the itinerary be made. If changes are requested, Pilgrim Paths must confirm the feasibility of the changes and then will charge a fee of €50 per change for each accommodation or ground transportation change needed to complete the revised itinerary. Changes will be incorporated into a revised itinerary once the change fee has been billed and paid. Return to Top
If a participant cancels 90 days or more before departure, all payments will be refunded except €500 of your deposit which is transferable to another trip with Pilgrim Paths. If the cancellation is made fewer than 90 days before departure, the following non-refundable charges are added to the $100 withheld by Pilgrim Paths:
- 25% 31-90 days before departure
- 50% 15- 30 days
- 75% 8- 14 days
- 90% 4- 7 days
- 100% 3 days or less, no-show, interruption
These mandatory charges are included in order to cover the cost to Pilgrim Paths of subcontractors who have required advance payment in order to confirm bookings. Other terms and conditions may apply at registration. Return to Top
Release and Assumption of Risk: I understand and agree that during the tour in which I will participate, under the arrangements of Pilgrim Paths, certain risks and dangers may arise, including, but not limited to, acts of God, the hazards of the forces of nature (including but not limited to animal or insect bites), dangers and risks inherent in trekking activities (including but not limited to falls or injuries), and accident or illness in remote places without access to medical facilities, transportation, or means of rapid evacuation and assistance. Pilgrim Paths shall not be responsible for any injuries, damages, or losses caused to any traveler in connection with any of the above, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws, climatic conditions, abnormal conditions or developments, or any other actions, omissions, or conditions outside the travel company’s control. Traveler assumes complete and full responsibility for, and hereby releases the agent from any duty of, and all safety or security conditions at such destinations. Return to Top
In consideration of, and as a part of the payment for, the right to participate in such treks, tours, expeditions, or other activities and as a part of the payment for, the services arranged for me by Pilgrim Paths and its agents, employees, associates, affiliated companies, or subcontractors, I do hereby expressly assume all of the above risks. Return to Top
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Recommended packing list
This comprehensive packing list is designed to help you be well-prepared for a great pilgrimage hike experience. Participants must be prepared for rain, blisters, bugs, sun and potential emergencies. We ask that you carefully prepare yourself by going through this list in detail well before departure, and then bringing along each item.
- Backpack — In pilgrimage, your pack becomes your home. You will come to carry it with love and care, or with anger and resentment. Along the way, as each step weighs heavy, you’ll consider at great length what is necessary to hold within. The following is a list of things to consider for your pack of choice:
- A 35-liter pack is fine for the average build
- Backpack rain cover: for the wetter days
- A hip strap fit just above the hips and a chest strap to help the burden on your shoulders. Return to Top
- Outdoor clothes and shoes/boots — The first rule for outdoor clothes is: no cotton. It’s cold when wet and dries slowly after washing. The second rule is layer your clothes for warmth — add and subtract clothes when cold or hot. The third rule is to be prepared for rain.
- Hiking shorts (at least 1 pair) — poly material, lightweight and quick-dry, with zip pocket for money. Stretchable, breathable material is best.
- Long pants (1 pair) — Again, lightweight poly material is best. Quick drying feature allows these to be used as rain pants.
- Short sleeve running/hiking shirts (2 shirts) — These are sometimes called “technical t-shirts” and should be in a lightweight wool or poly material. On warm days it’s great to have one of your shirts be very light and breathable in a light color.
- Long sleeve running/hiking shirt (1 shirt) — This is primarily a base layer for cold or wet days, but can also be good as a sun layer when it’s sunny but not too hot.
- Underwear (3 sets) — As always, poly material for quick drying. Very lightweight for coolness. Why three? One set is worn during the day, one set is to change into after hiking, one stays in your day pack in case you need a change while hiking.
- Socks (3 pair) — We recommend lightweight, wool trekking socks, but snug, wool biking socks are even better. The goal is a very tight fit to keep your foot from moving around inside your sock. One pair stays in your day pack in case you need to change them on a wet or sweaty day.
- Trail runners or hiking shoes (1 pair) — Whether you choose a hiking boot or shoe is personal preference, but we strongly recommend choosing the thickest, most cushioned sole available with a very “toothy” tread for steep, gravelly inclines. Trail runners make a great choice since they’re cool. We prefer the Olympus 5 shoes, which offer a wide toe box, grippy sole, and lots of cushion for long days.
- Rain jacket — This important item should be a breathable material e.g. GoreTex, with sealed seams. As well as protecting from rain, this jacket is your wind-proof layer, so it should always be in our pack in order to provide a quick warm-up in a chill wind.
- Warm layer fleece jacket or down sweater — This doubles as a mid-layer and as a sweater for cool evenings.
- Sun/rain hat – You’ll want a hat with a wide brim to protect your face, ears and neck from sun exposure. It’s also useful on cold and/or rainy days for warmth and rain protection.
- Sunglasses
- CamelBak or other water storage – Good hydration is vital, so plan ahead for plenty of capacity. While there are some fountains along the way we should plan to carry about 1.5-2 liters with us.
- Sunblock lotion – The all-day varieties are simplest to use.
- Insect repellant — Drop this into your day pack for the occasional use. In general, mosquitoes are not a big problem on our summer trips, but it’s wise to be prepared. Return to Top
- Smartphone – We advise bringing a smartphone, even if you don’t plan to use it—mainly in case of emergency. If you choose to use one for navigation, we advise using an app like MapMe, Gaia, or PocketEarth.
- Small plastic bag for smartphone in case of rain
- Smartphone charger, power cord, and Euro plug adapter (if you’re from off the continent) Return to Top
- Blister kit – blisters need prompt attention since nothing can end a walk faster than painful feet. Your blister kit should include:
- Band-Aids or other self-adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- Paper surgical tape or duct tape
- A few small packages of gauze
- Vaseline or Glide lubricant (We use HikeGoo)
- Alcohol/iodine bottle or antiseptic pads
- Small pair of scissors (put these in your clear ‘liquids bag’ for check-in at the airport)
- Compeed or similar medicated pads for pre-blister hot spots Return to Top
- Optional: Hiking poles — These are a must if you have knee or hip problems and can be very helpful if you don’t. If you are flying with only carry-on baggage plan to bring a shipping tube for your telescoping poles so you can check them since not all security checks at airports allow them in the cabin.
- Optional: Camera, camera pouch, charger and plug adapter – You may already have this covered if you’re bringing a smartphone with an internal camera. If you’re particular about your photos, a small camera can meet your needs.
- Toilet paper roll and plastic bag – just in case nature calls while you’re on the trail
- Camp shoe (1 pair) — These comfortable shoes are for evenings and walking about town. Some use Crocs or Teva sandals for this. Another great choice is for your camp shoe to be a hiking sandal so you can alternate these with your hiking boots/shoes.
- Toiletries – toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, medicines. You may want to buy liquid consumables when you arrive in Europe rather than trying to pass liquid containers through security check at the airport.
- Clothes pins and travel clothesline – While occasionally you will be near laundromats or sometimes you will be able to ask your hotel to clean your clothes, most often it’s best to do laundry in hotel sinks. For that reason it’s great to have a 3-4 meter hiker’s clothesline and 6-8 clothespins for hanging up wet laundry.
- Dinner attire – Nothing fancy, but after each day’s hike you’ll want to have something comfortable to wear about town and at dinner. It’s nice not to have to wear sports gear, so a shirt/pants outfit or a simple dress works great.
- Swimsuit — There are a couple of options to swim, so bring your suit if you want to take a dip. Return to Top
- Documents and cards – including
- Passport and passport photocopy — Make a copy and put it somewhere safe and dry so you have an extra just in case.
- Airline/flight info — Bring copies of your reservation information so you easily can find confirmation numbers, flight times, etc.
- Waterproof document bag — Your passport should be with you at all times, along with your credential while you’re hiking in a waterproof document bag stored in a safe place.
- Pen and paper – Always have a pen with you on the airplane so you can fill out Customs forms before landing.
- Debit card(s) and credit card(s) and copies — Breakfast is included as part of your package, but lunches and dinner are “on our own.” Many cafes, food stores and restaurants in rural Europe are “cash only,” so you’ll want to bring your debit card for use at ATMs. No need to buy Euros before your arrival; it’s easiest to get them from an ATM upon arrival in Europe. Make certain you’ve contacted your banks so they know you’re traveling and won’t cancel your card as a caution against fraud. Having a second ATM/Debit card is a good failsafe in case one is lost or not functioning. Credit card — Carry one for emergencies, and again, contact your bank in advance. Copies of your cards — Bring a photocopy of the fronts and backs of any cards so you have the customer service phone numbers available in case of loss or theft.
- Guidebook – We provide a printed guidebook; you may want to purchase an e-copy for yourself to reduce the weight in your pack. Return to Top