Day 1

Individual arrival at Spoleto

Spoleto is a proud medieval town, with a beautiful cathedral (il Duomo) and an impressive castle which dominates the town from above. Your *** hotel is situated in the centre of Spoleto.  

Day 2

Spoleto - Ceselli

Today is a day full of nature. The climbing begins right from your hotel and will take you to Monteluco and then higher still to the pass at Castel di Monte. But before leaving Spoleto you will pass the cathedral with its beautiful frescoes by Filippo Lippi. It was here that in 1232 Anthony of Padua (or Anthony of Lisbon) was declared a saint by Pope Gregory IX. Also housed here is the letter that Francis wrote to Friar Leo. Continuing uphill, after the castle (the Rocca di Spoleto) and the bridge known as the Ponte delle Torri (13^th century) you enter the 'sacred' woods of Monteluco. These woods were recognised as having a mystical atmosphere even in ancient times, and were treated with fear and respect. In the first centuries of Christianity hermits came to these woods and settled here. St. Francis was also attracted by the mysticism of the place and in 1218 the Franciscans built a small sanctuary here. Continue on the 'Sentiero di Pio IX' (the path of Pope Pius IX) which in 1831, before becoming Pope, he used to escape from the pillaged town. Still climbing, you will reach the highest point of today's route at the pass of Castel del Monte. From here you begin the decent into the Valle del Nera. You will be taken by car from Ceselli to Scheggino, where you will sleep in a chalet which was used as temporary accommodation in the period following the 1997 earthquake and has now been transformed into very comfortable bedrooms with a private bathroom and air conditioning.

Distance: 15,8 km; Walking time: 7 hours; Difficulty:  hard; Ascent / Descent: +550m  -680m

Day 3

Ceselli - Arrone

After breakfast you will be taken by car back to Ceselli, where your route finished yesterday. Today you will walk along the Nera valley to Arrone. The walking will be largely among fields and following the river, which winds along finding its own way. There is little uphill or downhill walking today.  Your overnight stay will be in an 'agriturismo' (farm accommodation) with a swimming pool.

Distance: 16,3 km; Walking time: 4 ½  hours; Difficulty:  easy; Ascent / Descent: +130m  -180m

Day 4

Arrone - Piediluco

Leave Arrone and continue to follow the river Nera. Just before the 'Cascate delle Marmore' waterfalls, the path climbs through the woods up to the highest point of the falls, which are artificial and were created during the Roman period. You have enough time to admire the falls from here. Without any more climbing you will reach the lake of Piediluco, where your last night is in a three star hotel. It is said that St. Francis visited Piediluco several times on his journeys to Rome or Rieti. To remember these visits, in 1298 the Franciscans began building a church here, which was completed in 1338. During the 18^th and 19^th centuries the lake of Piediluco became a popular stop-off on the 'grand-tour', the fashionable Italian journey undertaken by writers and artists from all over Europe. Among the people who have come this way are Goethe, Hesse, Lord Byron and Freud.

Distance: 14,6 km; Walking time: 5 hour ; Difficulty:  easy-medium; Ascent-Descent: +180m  -20m

Day 5

Piediluco-Poggio Bustone

After breakfast you will don your backpack for your first walk. Today's route is scattered with places of interest. You will pass Labro, which is evocative, charming and very well-kept. The characteristic village of Morro Reatino still has a beautiful castle gate and the remains of its old medieval town walls and towers. Continue your walk towards Francis's beech: a tree so well-loved that it has itself become a little living sanctuary. The beech tree is famous for its exceptional shape, with branches which are sinuously interwoven creating waves and knots of unusual beauty. It is said that the tree assumed this shape to shelter Saint Francis from a storm which took him by surprise during a solitary retreat. The last stretch takes you on a shortcut downhill on mule tracks to the village of Poggio Bustone. “Good day to you good people!” is how Francis greeted the surprised villagers of Poggio Bustone when he entered the town through the lower gate in 1208. He had come from Assisi and was accompanied by his first companions: Bernardo da Quintavalle, Pietro Cattani, Egidio, Sabatino, Morico, Masseo e Giovanni della Cappella.

Francis slept in a cave in the rocks. Here an angel in the form of a young man appeared to him, reassuring him that his sins would be forgiven: “ Do not torment yourself, oh Francis, for your sins will be forgiven as you have asked God”. Today in this place there is a little church with a small bell tower. The church is known as 'Sacro Speco' (the 'Holy Cave') and was built partly in the 14^th and partly in the 17^th century. A few narrow steps take you into the upper part and on the right you can clearly see the Cave of Revelations. The sanctuary at Poggio Bustone as we see it today is the result of various stages of building and rebuilding work over the course of the centuries. The oldest, original part is a small convent which dates back to the 13^th century. A transfer by vehicle will bring you to Rieti

Distance:20,5 km; Walking time: about 7 ½  hrs; Difficulty: heavy; Ascent-Descent: + 750m  -450m

Day 6

Poggio Bustone - Rieti

After breakfast a transfer by vehicle will bring you back to Poggio Bustone and today's walking takes you from here to Rieti, passing through the enchanting Cantalice and the sanctuary of La Foresta. Walking very near Mount Terminillo can leave a lasting impression. The first village you come across is Cantalice, which is perched on a hill with the houses overlapping right up to the highest point where the Torre del Cassero stands proud. This village was the birthplace of San Felice di Cantalice, who is remembered for the miracle of the water source said to have taken place in the spot where the sanctuary of S. Felice dell'Acqua stands today. The next section of the Via di Roma will take you to the sanctuary of La Foresta, which the bishop of Rieti donated to the Friars Minor in 1648. In the summer of 1225, on the invitation of Cardinal Ugolino, Saint Francis stayed here for 50 days to treat his eyes.

After about 5 hours of walking you will arrive in Rieti, your final destination for today. The WWF has created a trail along the river here which allows visitors to admire some of the most beautiful corners of Rieti, surrounded by greenery and in pleasant coolness thanks to the waters of the river Velino. You will be able to wander around the streets of this splendid town and enjoy a tasty dinner in one of the many characteristic local restaurants. A guided tour of underground Rieti is available for anyone interested.

Distance: 18,1 km; Walking time: 5 hrs; Difficulty: medium; Ascent-Descent: + 210m  -625m

Day 7

Departure or continuing to Rome  

Period

Individual tour: daily from 1^st April till the beginning of November. (In other months only on request). Group tour: 01/06 and 13/10

Level 3/4

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.

Price p.p. 2012

Self guided tour

in a double room    € 499,00

In a single room     € 620,00

travelling alone € 696,00

Group Tour

in a double room    € 924,00

In a single room     € 1.042,00

On request

extra nights, discount without luggage transportation, tracks voor gps (for free)

See also: La Verna-Città di Castello; Città di Castello -Assisi;  Assisi- Spoleto ;  Rieti-Roma