The route starts from Rome, leaving the Eternal City along the Tiber River, with the possibility of following two routes: the Salaria route and the Tiberina route.

We cross the Roman countryside and then the Sabine landscape, with the charming Abbey of Farfa in the delightful village of Fara in Sabina, until reaching the Sacred Valley of Rieti, the place of the heart of this section of the St. Francis of Assisi Way/Cammino. In this valley we find the evocative Franciscan Sanctuaries of Greccio, La Foresta, Poggio Bustone and Fontecolombo, set in green woods, and along the way, the Beech tree of St. Francis at Rivodutri. The valley is surrounded by the peaks of Terminillo and the Sabine Mountains.

After Lake Piediluco, the route ascends along the Valnerina, or Valley of the Nera River, touching the characteristic villages of Arrone, Ferentillo and Ceselli. Past the imposing Monteluco, where the Sacred Wood and the Franciscan Sanctuary of Monteluco stand, we arrive in the Spoleto Valley so dear to Francis: “Nihil iucundius vidi valle mea spoletana.”

The route winds along the gentle Umbrian valley with its villages rich in art and beauty: Spoleto, Poreta, Trevi, Foligno and Spello. The landscape of Italy reaches peaks of beauty in the cultivated countryside then offers the pilgrim local products related to the history of the places. The journey is completed in Assisi, a true “city-sanctuary.”

It is worth reserving a day for Assisi to devote to experiencing its great historical, artistic and spiritual value.