Via di Francesco Walking Tour | Small Group Walking Tours Italy

Experience with like minded people a small group journey walking Via di Francesco (or the Way of St. Francis) in Italy. One of a few European tour companies who offer a tour leader and local guides for senior couples and single travellers on this journey between the key destinations on this walk.

From A$12,050AUD

Available

Highlights

  1. 1. Visit the mountain sanctuary, La Verna, which served as a place of quiet contemplation for St. Francis.
  2. 2. Be in awe of the Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi, a World Heritage Site which houses the saint's tomb.
  3. 3. View the 15th century Renaissance masterpieces such as the "Annunciation" and "The Adoration by the Shepherds" by Pinturicchio in the Cappella Baglioni (Baglioni Chapel).
  4. 4. Stroll through the magnificent ruins of Villa Adriana (Hadrian's Villa), a retreat residence built for the Roman emperor in Tivoli.
Via di Francesco Walking Tour | Small Group Walking Tours Italy itinerary

Departure Dates

Departure Date Price
10 September 2024

Ends 26 September 2024

A$12,050 Twin

A$13,900 Single

Available
Selected
08 August 2025

Ends 24 August 2025

A$12,695 Twin

A$14,650 Single

Available
07 August 2026

Ends 23 August 2026

A$12,695 Twin

A$14,650 Single

Available

Via di Francesco Walking Tour: Following the Pilgrims

Odyssey Traveller's Via di Francesco (or the Way of St. Francis) small group walking tour links together places directly associated with the life and sacred travels of St. Francis of Assisi. This 18-day tour traverses Italy from Florence to Rome through incredible landscapes, with important stops in Assisi, where St. Francis was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone to a wealthy family in 1182 and where he died at the age of 44 in 1226.

The Via di Francesco pilgrimage walk traditionally begins at the Sanctuary of La Verna and ends at the tomb of St. Assisi in Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi. This tour, especially designed for the active mature or senior traveller, combines comfortable coach rides with enriching walks through verdant forests and valleys. We will walk up to 15 kilometres per day, and explore key places of interest on the pilgrimage route with local guides. If you are after a memorable travel experience, this is guaranteed to be an unforgettable walking adventure full of history and culture.

On this tour, we will visit:

  • Florence
  • Arezzo
  • Cita di Castello
  • Gubbio
  • Assisi
  • Terni
  • Viterbo
  • Piediluco area
  • Tivoli
  • Rome

St. Francis, patron saint of Italy (with Saint Catherine of Siena) and the patron saint of animals and the environment, chose to leave a life of luxury to devote the rest of his years to the Christian faith. He is remembered as the first person to receive the stigmata, or marks resembling the wounds Jesus Christ suffered when he was crucified, and was canonised only two years after his death. In 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergogli from Argentina chose to honour the saint by taking his name, becoming Pope Francis.

Though St. Francis lived a life of poverty and solitude, travellers will be treated to a rich route that passes through historic towns filled with architectural wonders and amazing natural beauty. Even with the walking, you will be enjoying la dolce vita and discovering hidden gems along this pilgrimage. As well as taking in important Franciscan sites, you will have the chance to experience delicious Italian cuisine and gain an insight into local culture in each of the towns we visit. Be prepared for an Italian adventure like no other.

For more details, click the ‘Top 5’ or ‘Itinerary’ buttons above! If you’re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right-hand side of this page.

About senior walking tours from Odyssey Traveller

Odyssey Traveller offers a range of walking tours each year paced for senior travellers. The collection of walks are for active mature and senior travellers, particularly those who seek out walking tours that are typically off the main circuit. Click through to see the complete list of small group walking tours offered.

Articles published by Odyssey Traveller for Walking and Hiking tours for seniors

To help you prepare for any walking program whether with Odyssey or another company this list of articles is intended to help you prepare for your holiday.

Articles about Italy published by Odyssey Traveller

The following list of articles, represents some of the articles published by Odyssey Traveller for mature aged and senior travellers to maximise their knowledge and enjoyment of Italy when visiting;

For all the articles published by Odyssey Traveller, please click through to this link

External articles to assist you on your walk along Via De Francesco way

For more details about this tour, click the ‘Top 5’ or ‘Itinerary’ buttons above! If you’re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page.

Other Odyssey Tours

Walking the Via De Francesco way is only one of many of the small group tours offered by Odyssey Traveller to Italy. You can also view the entire collection of tours to Europe offered to mature aged and senior travellers each year. Odyssey Traveller Via De Francesco small group walking tour is one of many walking programs offered by us each year. These active tours are designed for the mature traveller to enjoy in a small group holiday and learning environment. If you’d like to learn more about ancient and modern pilgrimages, you can read our informative article about the many pilgrimage routes in Europe, and an article focusing on the routes of the Camino and Via de la Plata. The article ends with some helpful tips to prepare you for long walks.

Itinerary

17 days

Day 1: Florence

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Rosso 23 or similar

Upon arrival in Florence we make our own way to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free. In the evening we will meet again as a group for a welcome dinner at a local traditional restaurant.

Day 2: Florence

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Rosso 23 or similar

Florence is the capital of the region of Tuscany and is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. It is home to the awe-inspiring Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo di Firenze), the Piazza della Signoria near the city’s town hall, Palazzo Vecchio (“Old Palace”), and the medieval Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge across the Arno River left intact in World War II.

Today we will spend the morning walking around the city to view the main sights, and have the afternoon free to spend at our leisure.

Day 3: La Verna - Pieve Santo Stefano - Arezzo

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Continentale or similar

A touring coach will be joining us today and stay with us until Day 15.

After breakfast we will transfer to La Verna to visit this peaceful mountain Franciscan sanctuary and the traditional starting point of the Via di Francesco. We will have a guided tour of the Sanctuary of La Verna, which served as a place of quiet contemplation for the saint and where he was said to have received the stigmata, and walk roughly 15 kms through the beautiful Casentino woods to Pieve Santo Stefano. We will enjoy a packed picnic lunch to eat along the way. This trail is of medium difficulty, with a few steep areas on Mount Calvano and Mount Modina.

Upon arrival in Pieve Santo Stefano we will have free time to explore the area. Pieve Santo Stefano is a small village with vestiges of its Roman origins. It is also known as “Diary City” as it is home to the Archivio Diaristico Nazionale, which collects thousands of diaries and other epistolary texts.

After exploring, we will transfer to Arezzo and check in to our accommodation for the night. We will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 4: Arezzo - Citerna - Lerchi - Citta di Castello

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Tiferno or similar

After breakfast we will travel by coach to Citerna, named after its extensive underground system of cisterns, and have some free time to explore this charming Umbrian city. It has two ancient city gates still standing–Porta Romana and Porta Fiorentina, named after the directions they faced (towards Rome and Florence, respectively)–and several churches.

Still in the Citerna area, we will head to Fattoria Montelupo, the only fattoria (“farm”) in Umbria producing buffalo mozzarella. We will have a guided tour to learn about the production process and have a tasting.

We will transfer to Lerchi and start our 9 km-walk to Citta di Castello. During the walk, subject to availability, we will have stops at Fondazione Archeologia Arborea, which has ancient local varieties of fruit plants, and Covent of Buon Riposo. This is a relatively walk with a downhill final stretch leading to the Cathedral of Città di Castello.

We will have time to explore Citta di Castello with a guide, and end the day with dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 5: Citta di Castello - Pietralunga - Gubbio

Accommodation: Overnight Relais Ducale or similar

From Citta di Castello we will transfer to Pietralunga, a small town with only around 2,300 inhabitants. It is home to a medieval stronghold and the 7th century Parish Church of Santa Maria, and we will explore the town on a guided tour. We will transfer to the village of Monteleto and walk 7 kms. to Gubbio. The trail will be dotted with hermitages, abbeys, and little villages–plenty of wonderful stops to enrich our walk. Upon arrival in Gubbio we will have lunch (own arrangements) and view the main sights with a guide.

Our itinerary in Gubbio includes a ride by cable car on the Funivia Colle Eletto to reach the Basilica Sant’Ubaldo on Monte Ingino. The Basilica displays the body of St Ubaldo in a glass coffin above the altar, and has a small museum dedicated to the town festival, Corsa dei Ceri. We will also visit the Antiquarium and Teatro Romano, an archaeological museum and the remains of a 1st-century Roman theatre.

Day 6: Gubbio - Valfabbrica - Assisi

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Fontebella or similar

We are moving ever closer to Assisi. After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel by coach from Gubbio to Valfabbrica and from there walk the 15 kilometres to Assisi. The first stretch of this journey is in the woods with a few uphill areas, but overall this is an easy terrain as the landscape opens up, giving us a view of olive groves and vineyards.

Upon arrival in Assisi we will have lunch (own arrangements) and soak in the beautiful sights on a guided tour of St. Francis’s birthplace.

Of course an important stop is the Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi, a World Heritage Site since 2000 and where the saint’s remains are interred. We will also visit the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli (Basilica of Saint Mary of Angels), a huge church built over the small 9th century Porziuncola, the most sacred place for the Franciscans as it was where the Franciscan movement started; and the Basilica di Santa Chiara (Basilica of St. Clare) dedicated to Saint Clare of Assisi, a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies, known today as the Order of Saint Clare.

We will then have dinner in a local restaurant and rest in our hotel.

Day 7: Assisi - Perugia - Assisi

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Fontebella or similar

Today we will have a little side trip to Perugia, capital of the Umbria region, and we will have the whole day free to explore on our own before returning to Assisi. Perugia was one of the main Etruscan cities and has a rich artistic tradition. It promises great sights dating from antiquity and the Renaissance.

Day 8: Assisi - Spello / Bevagna / Montefalco - Assisi

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Fontebella or similar

From Assisi, we will venture out to surrounding towns and have a full day of sightseeing in a trio of Umbrian hill towns: Spello, Bevagna and Montefalco.

In Spello we will visit the 12th century Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore (collegiate Church of Saint Mary Major), which houses the Cappella Baglioni (Baglioni Chapel) filled with 15th century Renaissance frescoes such as the Annunciation and The Adoration by the Shepherds by Pinturicchio, as well as a self-portrait of the artist himself.

We drive to Bevagna and view the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo (Church of Saint Michael the Arcangel) and Chiesa di San Silvestro (Church of St. Sylvester).

Finally in Montefalco we will visit the Chiesa Museo di San Francesco and view the depiction of St. Francis in a fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli, and enjoy a wine and olive oil tasting in a local cantina. After we have our fill, we will return to Assisi for dinner at our own arrangements.

Day 9: Assisi - Spoleto - Macenano - Arrone - Terni

Accommodation: Terni Overnight Hotel Valentino or similar

We will bid goodbye to Assisi and travel to Spoleto, a city at the foothill of the Apennine Mountains. We will have a local guide to view the main sights, including the ancient Basilica di San Salvatore which was built before the 9th century and was declared a World Heritage Site in 2011.

From Spoleto, we will transfer to Macenano and walk 10 kms. to Arrone with a local guide, who will take us on a worthy detour along the way to the Abbazia San Pietro di Valle (Abbey of San Pietro in Valle) on the side of the Nera River.

Once we arrive in Arrone, we will transfer to Terni and have the remainder of the day free to rest our legs.

Day 10: Terni - Bomarzo - Viterbo

Accommodation: Overnight in a local agriturismo or similar

After plenty of walking and sightseeing, we will have a more relaxed day today, with a guided visit to the beautiful man-made waterfall Cascate delle Marmore (Marmore Falls) in Terni followed by entrance to the gardens of Bomarzo, also called Parco dei Mostri (Park of the Monsters) due to its giant stone sculptures.

From Bomarzo, we will transfer to Viterbo for an overnight stay.

Day 11: Viterbo

Accommodation: Overnight in a local agriturismo or similar

Today is a free day to spend at our leisure. We may roam around the city, catch up with our laundry, or simply rest.

Day 12: Viterbo - Arrone - Piediluco

Accommodation: Overnight in a local agriturismo or similar

From Viterbo, we will transfer to Arrone and walk 14 kms. to Piediluco, where we will have a stop at the Sanctuary of St. Francis and enjoy views of the Piediluco Lake. Piediluco is a small village overlooking this beautiful alpine lake.

The remainder of the day is free until we meet again for dinner.

Day 13: Piediluco - Poggio Bustone - Labro - Rieti - Piediluco

Accommodation: Overnight in a local agriturismo or similar

Today we will venture out to Poggio Bustone, which St Francis of Assisi visited in 1208. He reportedly greeted the villagers by saying “Buon giorno buona gente” (Good morning, good people!), his words memorialised on the city’s arched gate. We will visit the the convent he built (San Giacomo Convent) and have some free time to explore the village on our own.

We will move on to Labro to explore the medieval fortress city, and to Rieti where we will have a city tour and stroll through Rieti aboveground and underground, viewing the subterranean passageways dating back to Roman times.

From Rieti we will head back to Piediluco and enjoy a group dinner at the hotel.

Day 14: Piediluco - Monterotondo - Cinquina - Tivoli Terme

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Tivoli Terme or similar

From Piediluco we head to Monterotondo, and from there walk 14 kms. to Cinquina. This relatively easy trail will take us through the serene rural countryside dotted with oak trees and medieval watch towers, until we reach the urban outskirts of the Eternal City. From Cinquina, we will be transferred to Tivoli Terme and retire for the night.

Day 15: Tivoli Terme - Rome

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Ripa Roma or similar

This morning we will view the World Heritage Site, Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa), a large Roman archaeological complex at Tivoli. It was constructed around the second century for Emperor Hadrian to serve as his retreat house from the palace in Rome, and its ruins show the riches and extravagance of the empire.

From Tivoli we will travel to the last city on our tour–the city of Rome.

Day 16: Rome

Accommodation: Overnight Hotel Ripa Roma or similar

This is a free day to spend at our leisure. Take time to relax, shop, and enjoy the sights of the Eternal City.

In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner as a group in the Trastevere area.

Day 17: Rome

The end of breakfast also marks the end of the tour and our services.

Tour Notes

  • A good level of fitness is required for this tour.

Includes / Excludes

What’s included in our Tour

  • 16 nights of accommodation.
  • 16 breakfasts and dinners as listed on the itinerary.
  • Transport, field trips and excursions as indicated.
  • All travel in modern, air-conditioned coaches.
  • Gratuities and tipping.
  • Services of a Tour Leader for the duration of tour.
  • Detailed information booklet.

What’s not included in our Tour

  • International flights.
  • Comprehensive international travel insurance.
  • Items of personal nature such as table drinks, laundry and telephone calls, and medical expenses.
Level 3 - Moderate to Challenging

Participants must be in excellent health, extremely mobile and live an active lifestyle. Program activities may include up to 6 hours of continuous strenuous, moderate-to-fast paced activities per day on varied terrain.

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Departure

10 September 2024

Available

Ends 26 September 2024 • 17 days

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Single Traveller
A$13,900
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A$12,050 pp

By booking two travellers sharing a room you save $1850 per person.

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You can reserve your spot by paying a A$1,000 pp deposit, for full details please see our Terms & Conditions .

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Prices are per person and valid until 30th December 2024.

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If less than 30 days before your tour starts you are unable to travel as a result of Government travel restrictions, Odyssey Traveller will assist you with a date change, provide you with a credit or process a refund for your booking less any non-recoverable costs.

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The safety of our travellers, tour leader, local guide and support staff has always been our top priority and with the new guidelines for public health and safety for keeping safe for destinations around the world, we’ve developed our plan to give you peace of mind when travelling with us.

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Reading List Download PDF

Pilgrimage: The Great Pilgrim Routes of Britain and Europe

Derry Brabbs

Pilgrimage in Europe is thriving on a massive scale. This century the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela alone has seen 40 times the number of pilgrim visits. Author Derry Brabbs’ previous book, Roads to Santiago, focused exclusively on the 'camino' through France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela; Pilgrimage revisits this classic route, and nine other inspirational journeys across Europe.

Amazon

Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life Inspired

Wyatt North

St. Francis’s call is a call to return to the basics of Christianity. It is a call to Christians to reach back to their roots so that their spiritual lives can draw strength from the pure waters of the Gospel instead of being choked by manmade traditions and worldly concerns. In the words of G. K. Chesterton, the coming of Francis “marked the moment when men could be reconciled not only to God but to nature and, most difficult of all, to themselves. … his whole function [was] to tell men to start afresh and, in that sense, to tell them to forget” (124).

While St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved saints in history, the relevancy of St. Francis for our times in light of the election of Pope Francis has yet to be explored. This book is written with the intention of filling that gap. While it is biographical in nature, it also freely explores themes that relate to St. Francis but are not a part of his life. This book is about more than the life of St. Francis of Assisi; it is about the impact this beloved saint has had through his imitation of Christ, his love of poverty, the Franciscan movement, and his profound influence on Pope Francis.

Amazon

Every Pilgrim's Guide to Assisi: And Other Franciscan Pilgrim Places

Judith Dean (Author), Molly Dowell (Illustrator), Colin Dunn (Illustrator)

Assisi, Greccio and neighbouring places associated with St Francis and St Clare are among the world's most popular pilgrim destinations. This pocket guide is the perfect travelling companion for all visitors to this beautiful region of Italy. Written by an experienced tour leader, it includes a blend of historical and practical tourist information, illustrations, maps and street plans, to enable visitors to make the most of their stay. Festivals associated with Francis, especially the blessing of the Christmas crib, are celebrated with great gusto and this book explains what special treats visitors can experience at different times of the year.

Amazon

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