Sui Passi Di Francesco

SUI PASSI DI FRANCESCO On the road in Umbria with Francis of Assisi Waliking Route Leg 1 Citerna - Città di Castello Start: Citerna Level: Difficult Finish: Città di Castello Height difference: + 630 / -700 m Total distance: 18,7 kms Surface: sealed - dirt Duration: 5hrs Drinking water: no The first leg of the journey is not lengthy, but there are several climbs and no drinking water is available, so it is physically trying. However the peace and quiet and the beauty of the scenery along the Upper Tiber valley make the effort worthwhile. Citerna is reached from the La Verna hermitage. From the village, the route goes downhill through the countryside. Past the stream, there is a steep climb in the shade of the pine trees. After several ups and downs, at about 4 kilometres from Città di Castello the route reaches the Franciscan convent of Buonriposo, which nestles in the folds of forest-covered Mount Citerone. From here the way is entirely downhill to the plain, where there is a short climb before reaching Città di Castello. Leg 2 Città di Castello - Collevecchio Start: Città di Castello Level: medium Finish: Collevecchio Height difference: + 400 / -110 m Total distance: 11,2 kms Surface: sealed - dirt Duration: 4hrs Drinking water: yes This leg is suitable for all, but some tracts are rather steep. The total distance can be increased to about 30kms if Pietralunga is reached in the same day. The route winds its way along pleasant country lanes and sealed road, shaded by pine and oak trees. Past a small chapel, always graced by fresh flowers brought by the locals and pilgrims, it reaches the rather quiet main road, then follows the gentle ripples and falls of the Sui passi di Francesco Regione Umbria - Servizio Turismo, Via M. Angeloni, 61 – 06124 Perugia www.passidifrancesco.it – [email protected] Soara stream. It then returns to the road and crosses the bridge over the stream. From here , a path to the hilltop leads to Collevecchio in less than 2 kms. Leg 3 Collevecchio - Pietralunga Start: Collevecchio Level: medium Finish: Pietralunga Height difference: + 460 / - 520 m Total distance: 18,5 kms Surface: sealed-dirt Duration: 5hrs Drinking water: yes The route from Collevecchio to Pietralunga winds along ancient, unsealed roads through the beautiful scenery of the Umbrian Appennines. Collevecchio is the start of a journey where silence reigns, where everything is simple and pure. Through the hills covered with thick woods, ploughed land and fields of delicate daisies and dandelions, is the church and tower at Pieve de’ Saddi. The hilltop, at about 600m a.s.l., is a good spot to rest, as drinking water is available at a spring. From here the route goes downhill, then climbs up to Pietralunga, where a relaxing evening walk through the village streets is an opportunity to have a chat with the friendly locals. Leg 4 Pietralunga - Gubbio Start: Pietralunga Level: Difficult Finish : Gubbio Height difference: + 370 / - 450 m Total distance: 25,8 kms Surface: sealed-dirt Duration: 6,30 hrs Drinking water: no This is where the Umbrian scenery is at its best. Past the abbey of San Benedetto Vecchio, there are lovely views of gentle hills, woods and pastures. The route runs along the quiet, local road to Mocaiana, then connects with the path again. Old farmhouses and graceful dovecots alternate with modern tractors. The path goes through a wooden gate then down a steep dirt road and along the sealing to the small church of Madonna di Montecchi. The view to the right is over the valley of Gubbio, with its lines of poplar trees. From here there is a descent to the plain, past the Badia di Piazza. The last part, along sealed road, is rather long, but fatigue is forgotten on arrival at Gubbio, the second home of Saint Francis. Sui passi di Francesco Regione Umbria - Servizio Turismo, Via M. Angeloni, 61 – 06124 Perugia www.passidifrancesco.it – [email protected] Leg 5 Gubbio - Biscina Start: Gubbio Level: medium Finish: Biscina Height difference: + 520 / - 500 m Total distance: 22,8 kms Surface: sealed-dirt Duration: 5,30 hrs Drinking water: no Gubbio was the first place where Francis the pilgrim found refuge after renouncing his worldly possessions. This leg shares the same route as the Sentiero Francescano della Pace (Franciscan Peace route). Just outside the medieval city is the Chiesa della Vittorina, where Francis encountered the fierce wolf and befriended it. Along the way is the ancient Eremo di San Pietro in Vigneto, a good place to rest. The hermit living at San Pietro has chosen a life of asceticism and solitude which must be respected. The walk continues to the church of Caprignone , where the tower of the castle of Biscina is just visible in the distance. This leg is one of the most fascinating along the whole way, but if the weather is wet, suitable boots for the mud and a raincoat are a must. Leg 6 Biscina - Valfabbrica Start: Biscina Level: medium Finish: Valfabbrica Height difference: + 520 / - 500 m Total distance: 22,8 kms Surface: sealed- dirt Duration: 5,30 hrs Drinking water: no A well marked path descends from the lonely castle of Biscina through hornbeam woods where light hardly penetrates. The remains of the castles of Coccorano and Giomici that can be seen in the distance still have the warlike atmosphere they had in Francis’ times. The descent continues to the sealed road , where the dry water basin behind the Valfabbrica dam can be seen. The route continues on sealed road beside the Chiascio river to Barcaccia, where large boats were once used to cross the water. Here the remains of an ancient hostel and the small country church dedicated to San Benedetto and Beato Paolino da Coccorano can be seen. Just a little further ahead is Valfabbrica. Sui passi di Francesco Regione Umbria - Servizio Turismo, Via M. Angeloni, 61 – 06124 Perugia www.passidifrancesco.it – [email protected] Leg 8 Valfabbrica - Ripa Start: Valfabbrica Level: easy Finish: Ripa Height difference: + 90 / - 50 m Total distance: 10,5 kms Surface: sealed Duration: 2,30 hrs Drinking water: yes This part of the journey is along flat, sealed road , starting from Valfabbrica, a medieval village on the banks of the Chiascio river. The village has an ancient medieval castle with walls from the 13 th century and an imposing tower. Inside the castle is the church of San Sebastiano, originally an Oratory, whose interior was renovated in the 16 th century. Outside the castle is the small church of Madonna di Foce, built between 1634 and 1636, which has a large terracotta rose window on its facade, and the modern church of S. Maria Assunta, which has stained glass windows and paintings from the 16 th and 17 th centuries. The route continues along the road, passing through Pianello, and ending in the historical centre of Ripa. Leg 8 Ripa - Perugia Start: Ripa Level: easy Finish: Perugia Height difference: + 320 / - 170 m Total distance: 16,5 kms Surface: sealed Duration: 4 hrs Drinking water: yes This flat stretch is ideal for resting a little after the fatigue of the previous days’ walking. It starts at Ripa, amidst fields of sunflowers and the gentle hills surrounding Perugia. The ancient Etruscan hilltop city of Perugia is reached after a steep climb where care must be taken of the local traffic. At the end of the climb up the old Via Eugubina is the large Franciscan convent at Monte Ripido, which has a beautiful library containing precious volumes and one of the best views of Perugia. From here the route goes through narrow medieval streets, once full of bustling merchants and now lively with university students. Sui passi di Francesco Regione Umbria - Servizio Turismo, Via M. Angeloni, 61 – 06124 Perugia www.passidifrancesco.it – [email protected] Leg 9 Perugia - Assisi Start: Perugia Level: easy Finish: Assisi Height difference: + 350 / - 355 m Total distance: 27 kms Surface: sealed-dirt Duration: 9 hrs Drinking water: yes This leg of the journey partly follows the route of the Assisi Peace March. It starts at the Maggiore Fountain, set in one of the most beautiful parts of Perugia, then descends to Ponte San Giovanni and joins the path running along the Tiber river banks. The commercial centres of Bastiola and Bastia are passed through along the way. The road from Santa Maria degli Angeli to Assisi is the historical Franciscan route that connects the two main places of the Saint’s devotion. Today, thanks to the “A brickstone for Assisi” project, thousands of pilgrims have donated the brickstones used to pave the road you walk along . There is a deviation along the way because of work in progress. Leg 10 Assisi - Foligno Start: Assisi Level: difficult Finish: Foligno Height difference: + 690 / - 885 m Total distance: 21,8 kms Surface: sealed - dirt Duration: 8 hrs Drinking water: no Assisi is a starting point for discovering the less well known places where the main events in Francis’ life took place. The end of the leg is at Foligno. From Porta Perlici the route goes to the Eremo della Carceri, then continues along narrow, stoney paths through the untouched Monte Subasio Regional Park. The climb requires walkers to be rather fit, but when the endless hilltop plain appears above, after traversing places of noise and silence, sunlight and shade, an idea of the Absolute can be sensed, that will be left as one of the best memories of the journey. The path then leaves the wild and descends towards the plain through olive groves to Spello, then continues along sealed road to Foligno, where the locals will provide a sincere and cordial welcome.

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