Stage 9: Arrone - Ceselli

This relaxing leg of the journey is 15 km long and is useful for relaxing your weary muscles and preparing yourself for the uphill climb to Spoleto.

You will walk on flat ground along the valley of the Nera River, the bends of which have been compared, according to local legends, to the coils of a dragon.

Along the ancient communication routes, watched over by the hillside castles, you will walk through the greenery of nature. The St Francis Way starts from the collegiate church of Santa Maria Assunta in Arrone and is a pleasant walk along the narrow valley of the Nera River.

You proceed on flat ground, with the rocky outcrops of the mountains sloping down to the valley on the right and the clear waters of the river on the left. In the distance, Ferentillo appears with its two castles, Precetto and Materella, which face each other from the mountains of Sant'Angelo and Gabbio.

The little village is worth stopping at in order to visit the unusual "Museum of Mummies” situated in the crypt of the church of Santo Stefano.

It is said that, among the mummies, the bodies of two Asian pilgrims who were transiting through Umbria are preserved.

After leaving the village, you walk along the valley until, on the mountainside on the other side of the river, you notice the abbey of San Pietro in Valle, with its impressive bell tower.

For those who have time, it is definitely worth making a detour to see this place. The abbey contains exceptionally beautiful works of art. Quite soon, you will reach Ceselli, which stands on a gentle hillside beyond the River.