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THE VIA DI SAN FRANCESCO - WAY OF ROME: FROM LA VERNA TO CITTÀ DI CASTELLO
a pilgrimage walking holiday 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 la Verna and walking till Pieve Santo Stefano (15 km)
Day
3
ring
walk Pieve Santo Stefano - Valico di Viamaggio- Pieve Santo Stefano (17 km)
Day
4
Transfer
by vehicle to Valico di Viamaggio and walking till Sansepolcro (24 km)
Day
5
Sansepolco
- Monterchi and transfer by vehicle to Città di Castello (15 km)
Day
6
Transfer
by vehicle to Monterchi and walking to Città di Castello (16 km)
Day
7 departure or continuing the Via di San Francesco
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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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La
Verna – Pieve Santo Stefano
After
breakfast you will be taken by vehicle to La Verna Abbey, built
upon the mountain bearing the same name. At La Verna Saint
Francis received the signs of the stigmata. Still remaining from
this period are the small church Santa Maria degli Angeli and
the cells of St. Francis and his companions. After your visit of
the abbey you will start your first walk of this tour, climbing
to the top of mount Calvano (1250 a.s.l.). From here you will
have a magnificent view over the valley of Pieve Santo Stefano
far below. You will then begin your descent to this town. Pieve
Santo Stefano is a town of Etruscan origin, but we don’t know
much about its past because in the 19th century all
the documentation was lost in a flood.
Distance:
15 km; Walking
time:
4 ½ hours
; Difficulty:
medium; Ascent
/ descent:
+ 300m, - 970m
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Day
3
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Pieve
Santo Stefano – Eremo di Cerbaiolo – Pieve Santo Stefano
Today’
s walk is a ring-route taking in the hermitage
‘eremo di Cerbaiolo’ and the pass ‘Valico di
Viamaggio’. Leaving Pieve Santo Stefano the route climbs
towards the hermitage. There is a saying that “whoever has
visited La Verna and not Cerbaiolo has seen the mother but not
the child”. Cerbaiolo is cradled against the mountain,
surrounded by an oak wood. It was a dreary and abandoned place
when Francis and his companions stayed here in 1216, but two
years later the first Franciscan monks came to live here and
restored the hermitage. In 1230 St. Antony of Padua also stayed
for a period in Cerbaiolo. The route continues climbing to the
Valico di Viamaggio from which, zigzagging, you will descend
back to Pieve Santo Stefano.
Distance:
about 17 km; Walking
time:
6 hours
; Difficulty:
medium - difficult
; Ascent
/ descent:
+ 480m, - 480m
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Day
4
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Pieve
Santo Stefano –Sansepolcro
After
breakfast you will be taken by vehicle to the Valico di
Viamaggio, where you will rejoin the Via di S.Francesco. You
will walk through woodland with occasional clearings, from which
you can enjoy amazing views over the surrounding hills and
mountains. After reaching the top of Mount Verde you will begin
the long descent towards Sansepolcro. You walk along dirt roads
and trails and in the village of Montagna you can have a
well-deserved break, after which your descent continues to the
monastery of Montecasale, where was once a tavern for pilgrims
on their way to the Holy Land. Francis stayed here several times
and praised the silence of this place. After another 5 km
downhill you will reach Sansepolcro, the birthplace of the
painter Piero della Francesca, whose famous painting ‘The
resurrection’ can be admired in the town’s museum. Also
worthwhile visiting is the cathedral. You will stay in the
centre of town.
Distance:
about 24 km; Walking
time:
8 hours; Difficulty:
difficult; Ascent
/ descent:
+ 480m, - 1000m
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Day
5
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Sansepolcro-Monterchi
Today’s
walk is shorter and with less climbing and descent. This gives
you the opportunity to visit Sansepolcro, Citerna and Monterchi.
Leaving Sansepolcro you cross the fertile Tiber valley and after
the hamlet of Bastia you enter the region of Umbria. The terrain
becomes more hilly and the route climbs through the woods to the
town gate of Citerna, a small medieval town, which is listed as
one of the most beautiful villages (borghi) of Italy. Today’s
walk finishes in Monterchi, where you can see another work of
art by Piero della Francesca. From Monterchi you will be taken
by vehicle to your hotel in Città di Castello.
Distance:
about 15 km; Walking time: 4 hours; Difficulty:
easy – medium; Ascent
/ descent:
+ 180m - 190m
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Day
6
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Monterchi
– Città di Castello
After
breakfast you will be accompanied by vehicle to the point at
Monterchi where you left the Via di S. Francesco yesterday.
Today you will walk the stretch to Città di Castello
through a hilly landscape with oak woods and fields. Just before
arriving in Città di Castello you will pass the hermitage del
Buon Riposo, built on the spot where St. Francis stayed in a
cave during his journeys to La Verna. Now it is private
property. The last stretch of descent will take you past Villa
Montesca, where Maria Montessori taught teachers her education
method, across the bridge over the Tiber and into the centre of
Città di Castello.
Distance:
about 16 km; Walking
time:
5 hours
; Difficulty:
medium
; Ascent
/ descent:
+ 540m - 470m
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Day
7
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departure
after breakfast or continue the Via di Roma
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The individual
tour includes:
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6
nights in 3 and 4 star hotels with breakfast
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clients
assistance
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luggage
transportation
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descriptions
and maps in English
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tour
information in English
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all
transfer mentioned in the programme
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insurance
The
group tour includes:
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6
nights in 3 and 4 star hotels with breakfast
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6
dinners
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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: 01/05 e 22/09
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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 €
495,00
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in
single room € 605,00
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travelling
alone
€ 690,00
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group tour
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in
double room €
910,00
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in
single room € 980,00
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On
request
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extra nights, discount
transporting your own luggage, tracks for gps (for free)
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