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THE VIA DI SAN FRANCESCO - WAY OF ROME: FROM CITTÀ DI CASTELLO TO
ASSISI
a pilgrimage walking tour of 7 days: self
guided or group tour
Since
medieval times there have been three famous Christian pilgrimage
destinations: Jerusalem in the Holy Land, Santiago de Compostella in
Spain, and Rome. The ‘Way of St. Francis'(Roman Way) is a section of a
pilgrims' route to Rome, a European cultural path which starts in Vienna
and ends in Rome, passing many places connected with the life of St.
Francis. The route, which also carries the symbol of the keys of St.
Peter, finishes in front of St. Peter’s tomb in Rome. Every year many
pilgrims and trekkers from all over the world follow this path, passing
hermitages, sanctuaries, ancient forests, olive groves and valleys rich
in art and history. This walking route begins in Tuscany, at the La
Verna monastery, where St. Francis received the signs of the stigmata (wounds
of Christ). The route then crosses Umbria from north to south and
finishes in Rome, in the region of Lazio. In Umbria, the native area of
St. Francis, his presence is particularly strong and everything reminds
us of the much-loved saint. A highlight of this tour is of course the
lovely town of Assisi, where a section of the Via di Roma begins at the
St. Francis tomb in the Basilica di San Francesco, one of the most
celebrated sacred spots of Christianity. Assisi enjoys a splendid
position on a hillside at the foot of Monte Subasio, overlooking the
Valle Umbra and lying between the rivers Chiascio, Topino and Tescio. St.
Francis (1181/82 – 1226) was born in Assisi and lived here for most of
his life. It is certainly worth inserting an extra day in your itinerary
to visit this fascinating town. Leaving Assisi you will walk through the
wonderful countryside of Umbria, which St. Francis so loved, and you
will pass through medieval towns and villages such as Spello, Foligno,
Trevi, Spoleto and Arrone. You enter the region of Lazio and along the
approach Rome the landscape becomes ever flatter, but not less exciting.
On the last two days you will walk through Rome passing many monuments,
which are worth visiting, but the highlight will certainly be the
Basilica of St. Peter, the final destination of this walking tour
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Programme
in short:
Day
1
arrival
at Città di Castello
Day
2
transfer
by vehicle to Moun Sasso and walking till Pietralunga (23 km)
Day
3
Pietralunga
- Gubbio (25,8 km)
Day
4
Gubbio
- Biscina (22,8 km)
Day
5
Biscina
- Valfabbrica (16,2 km)
Day
6
Valfabbrica
- Assisi (15,7 km)
Day
7 departure or continuing the Via di San Francesco
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Daily
programme
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Day
1
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Individual
arrival at Città di Castello
Your
hotel is in the old centre of Città di Castello, a town situated
in the Upper Tiber Valley and surrounded by a green landscape of
rolling hills. It is a town bubbling with life and an important
economical centre of the valley. Worth visiting are the municipal
museum -with works by painters such as Raphael, Luca Signorelli,
Giovanni and Andrea della Robbia, Pomarancio and Ghirlandaio- and
the two museums dedicated to the works of Alberto Burri.
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Day
2
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Città
di Castello - Pietralunga
After breakfast you will be taken by vehicle to Moun
Sasso to begin a beautiful walk through Umbrian hills. Of
particular interest today is Pieve de Saddi, one of the earliest
Christian communities in the Upper Tiber Valley (3rd
century a.C.). Your walk today finishes at Pietralunga, a small
town built on a hilltop. At the main square you can see the
remains of the Longobard castle.
Distance:
23 km; Walking time:
7 hours; Difficulty:
difficult; Ascent / descent:
+ 660m, - 530m
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Day
3
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Pietralunga
– Gubbio
Today
another spectacular walk awaits you, with beautiful views of the
surrounding hills and mountains. You will pass the Abbey of San
Benedetto and will climb and descend to reach the high plain of
Gubbio, where the town itself is built proudly on the slopes of
Monte Ingino. Gubbio not only offers fascinating cultural
sights, but is also
a lively town with small shops, excellent restaurants and cosy
squares. Gubbio is closely linked with the life of St. Francis,
who came here as a beggar. In this town he found shelter thanks
to his friend the textile merchant
Spadalunga, who not only gave him a place to sleep but
clothes to dress himself. This simple straight dress became
the prototype of the Franciscan tunic. The church and
monastery of St. Francis is built on the site of Spadalunga’s
house. You will stay in a hotel near the church of St. Francis..
The hotel is situated in the historical centre of the town.
Distance:
25,8 km; Walking
time:
8 hours; Difficulty:
difficult; Ascent
/ descent:
+ 370m, - 450m
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Day
4
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Gubbio
- Biscina
This
stage of the ‘Sentiero della Pace’ leads to the castle of
Biscina. In the beginning a steep climb brings you out of the
valley of Gubbio. Today you will have a beautiful scenery and
you will pass the small church of Caprignone, the hermitage of
S.Pietro in Vigneto and the chapel Madonna delle Ripe. Today’s
route ends at a holiday farm near the Castle of Biscina.
Distance:
22,8 km; Walking
time:
6 ½ hours; Difficulty:
medium - difficult; Ascent
/ descent:
+ 520m, - 500m
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Day
5
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Biscina
- Valfabbrica
Also
today a uphill downhill walk through the hills between Assisi
and Gubbio. You will pass the small churches of Sambuco and
Coccorano and walking along the Chiascio River you will arrive
at Vallfabbrica. Your overnight stay is in town or just outside
Distance:16,2
km; Walking
time:
4 ½ hours; Difficulty:
medium; Ascent
/ descent:
+ 450m - 360m
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Day
6
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Valfabbrica
- Assisi
This
last stage will see you walking though forest and olive groves
to Assisi. From afar you will already be able to see the castle
and the basilica of St. Francis.
Near the bridge Ponte
Croce, you can make
a short detour and walk in the ‘Forest of St. Francis’ with
the small church of St.Croce, the ‘Ponte dei Galli’ (the
bridge where is said that Charles the Great passed) and an old
mill. A last steep
climb and you will pass through the town gate known as Porta
S.Giacomo. Descending from here you will have an astounding view
of the upper church of St.Francis. On the way to your hotel you
will cross the town centre, passing the most famous Franciscan
monuments.
Distance:15,7
km; Walking
time:
4 ½ hours; Difficulty:
medium; Ascent
/ descent:
+ 450m - 360m
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Day
7
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Departure
or continue of the Way of St.Francis |
The
individual tour includes:
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6
nights in 3 and 4 star hotels with breakfast
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3
dinners
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clients
assistance
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luggage
transportation
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descriptions
and maps in English
-
tour
information in English
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all
transfer mentioned in the programme
-
insurance
The
group tour includes:
-
6
nights in 3 and 4 star hotels with breakfast
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6
dinners
-
lunch
packages
-
clients
assistance
-
luggage
transportation
-
descriptions
in English
-
tour
information in English
-
all
transfer mentioned in the programme
-
insurance
-
an
English / Italian speaking tour leader
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Period
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Individual:
every day from 1 April till beginning of November (the other
months on request). Group tour: 07/05 e 28/09 |
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Level
3/4
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The
daily itineraries pass through moderately mountainous country and
hill terrain. On some days the amount of ascent and descent is
quite considerable. Daily walking distances are between 15 and 28
km (with an average of 3 – 4 hours walking a day). This route
requires a certain amount of experience and familiarity with
mountain terrain. A good level of fitness for walking is necessary.
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Price
p.p. 2012
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individual
tour
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in
double room € 520,00
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in
single room € 635,00
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travelling
alone € 695,00
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group tour
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in
double room € 935,00
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in
single room € 1.040,00
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On
request
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extra
nights, price without luggage transportation, tracks for gps
(gratis)
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