Italy beyond the obvious: discover the Way of St. Francis
Imagine getting to know Italy among stone paths, green landscapes and small towns full of stories. The Camino de São Francisco invites you to exchange haste for a trip in which the route is also part of the discovery.
Comadre, Italy has those postcards that everyone recognizes. But it also holds a beauty that appears when we slow down: a village on top of the hill, a silent square, a road surrounded by greenery. It is in this meeting between landscape, history and contemplation that the Camino de São Francisco gains its charm.
Presented on July 30, 2026, the project brings together existing paths linked to the memory of the saint. The initiative arrives in the year that marks the 800th anniversary of his death and organizes a network of routes that converge on Assisi, a city deeply associated with his trajectory. Il Cammino della Luce
Six regions and many travel possibilities
The network totals 1,546 kilometers, distributed between Abruzzo, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Tuscany and Umbria. This number includes branches, connections and variants: it does not mean that each visitor has to travel this entire distance in a single trip. Il Cammino della Luce
The interest is precisely in the possibilities. The traveler can get to know the itineraries, choose a route compatible with his time and preparation and build an experience that makes sense to him.
According to Italy's official tourism portal, the paths bring spirituality, cultural heritage and nature together, passing through medieval cities and villages. It is a proposal for tourism at a slower pace, which also values the places among the famous destinations. Italia.it
For those who like to observe the details, there is a special pleasure in this way of traveling. The itinerary leaves space to look at a façade, visit a square or simply enjoy the landscape, without turning each stop into a race for the next photograph.
Assisi: a destination to look at
carefully Assisi is the point of arrival that gives unity to the network. A medieval city built on a hill, it is the birthplace of St. Francis and houses a heritage site recognized by UNESCO. Its basilica brings together works by artists such as Cimabue and Giotto, fundamental to the history of Italian art. UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Even for those who do not take a religious trip, the destination offers reasons for a visit: architecture, art and history meet in a setting that deserves to be explored with time.
The experience also asks for respect. Churches and convents are spaces for visitation, but they are still places of prayer. Before photographing, it is worth checking the rules of each environment and observing the moments when silence is part of the visit.
The cloister of the Basilica of St. Francis reveals another angle of the set. File photograph, August 2016. Credit: Luca Aless/Wikimedia Commons.
Walking requires planning
An example presented by the Italian portal is the itinerary of the Via de Francisco between La Verna and Assisi. On this route, the final stage connects Valfabbrica to Assisi in about 13 kilometers, crossing landscapes with vineyards and olive trees, as well as stretches with ups and downs. Italia.it
The beauty of the path, therefore, does not dispense with preparation. Before choosing a stage, it is advisable to check distance, unevenness, weather forecast, support points and accommodation. A light backpack, water and suitable shoes also deserve a place in the planning.
For comadres who prefer to visit the destinations without long walks, one possibility is to organize a cultural trip through the cities of the region and consult the routes before deciding if any stretch fits on the tour. Each trip can have its own pace.
An invitation to live the route
The Way of St. Francis may be of interest to those looking for a spiritual experience, but also to those who want to discover an Italy of small towns, landscapes and encounters.
The proposal inspires a simple question when organizing a vacation: in addition to the places we want to visit, how do we want to live those days?
Sometimes the most beautiful memory is not born from the most crowded itinerary. It can be in a break to observe the horizon, in a conversation along the way or in the quiet arrival in a city that still has a lot to reveal.
Both are real archival photographs, made available under license CC BY-SA 4.0.
assisi-capa.jpg — Photo: Stifone, via Wikimedia Commons. assisi-claustro.jpg — Photo: Luca Aless, via Wikimedia Commons.