Episode #328: Walking the Way of St Francis – Central Italy’s Inspiring Pilgrimage Trail

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Summary

In this episode of Untold Italy, host Katy Clarke is joined by Emilia-Romagna-based archaeologist, historian, and hiking guide Sara Zanni, exploring one of Italy’s most special pilgrimage routes – the network of trails dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. Sara shares her deep passion for ancient roads, her experiences walking thousand-kilometer paths across Europe, and her work maintaining and preserving Italy’s cultural walking trails. Discover the beauty of the waymarked paths to Assisi, the spiritual resonance of Umbria’s ancient woods, the rich traditions of olive oil production, and the joy of slow travel.

What you'll learn in this episode

• Discover how the Via di San Francesco is not a single trail but a network of 13 pilgrimage routes crossing central Italy, connecting places where St. Francis preached, lived, and inspired communities, with Assisi at the spiritual heart of the journey
• Learn why St. Francis remains one of Italy’s most important historical and spiritual figures 800 years after his death, including how his messages of simplicity, peace, poverty, and respect for nature continue to resonate around the world today
• Explore some of the most beautiful sections of the route through Umbria and Tuscany, from olive groves and medieval hill towns to sacred forests, monasteries, abbeys, and artistic treasures like Piero della Francesca’s Madonna del Parto
• Hear what it’s really like to walk the trail, including accommodation in convents and pilgrim hostels, the welcoming pilgrim community, local food and wine experiences, and why the slower pace allows deeper connections with Italy’s landscapes, culture, and history
• Get practical advice for planning your own pilgrimage walk, including recommended route sections, distances and terrain, what to pack, how fit you need to be, tips for footwear and gear, and how to prepare for walking conditions across different regions of Italy

Timeline Overview

• 06:01 – How long-distance walking through Italy became a slower, more intentional way to travel after completing a PhD, including reflections on the challenges and rewards of multi-week pilgrimage journeys
• 10:53 – The life and legacy of St. Francis, his role as a peaceful missionary, and why his message of simplicity and connection to nature still resonates with pilgrims walking these routes today
• 16:30 – The network of St. Francis trails crossing central Italy, including scenic walks through Umbria and Tuscany, guided walking tours, and some of the most memorable stretches between medieval towns, monasteries, and olive groves
• 24:28 – The spiritual and natural highlights along the routes, from sacred forests and mountain hermitages to woodland trails that encourage a slower pace and deeper appreciation of Italy’s landscapes and history
• 36:05 – Practical advice for planning a pilgrimage walk in Italy, including preparing for changing weather, communicating with accommodation hosts, using online communities for trail advice, and understanding how these routes compare to the Camino de Santiago

About our guest – Sara Zanni

Sara Zanni has a Ph.D in Archaeology. She is a travel writer, guide, and consultant in slow tourism, specializing in pilgrimage and historical routes such as the Camino de Santiago, Via Francigena, and the Ways of St. Francis. With a deep passion for slow, mindful travel, she designs and leads transformative walking experiences that combine cultural immersion, creative expression, and conscious movement. Her work is particularly focused on international audiences, collaborating with global tour operators to create meaningful, sustainable journeys for travelers from around the world.

As an author, Sara writes travel books and guides that inspire and inform, offering both practical advice and profound insights into the spiritual and cultural dimensions of pilgrimage. Her expertise extends beyond writing: she organizes and guides group experiences, fostering connections among participants and the landscapes they traverse in collaboration with psychologists and psychotherapists within the project “Crocevia di Esperienze”.

Sara’s approach is based on the historical interpretation of landscapes and places in order to deliver an excellent experience and better connection with local communities, ensuring that her work – whether in print or on the trail – resonates with the diverse needs and aspirations of modern travelers.

Follow Sara here

• Website
• Instagram

Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned

Places

• Bologna – vibrant city in Emilia-Romagna, known for its medieval towers, porticoes, and rich culinary tradition
• Milan – cosmopolitan city in northern Italy, renowned for fashion, design, and as a major starting point for long pilgrimages
• Rome – Italy’s capital, brimming with ancient ruins, grand piazzas, and a key destination on pilgrimage routes
• Assisi – picturesque hill town in Umbria, famed as the birthplace of St. Francis and spiritual heart of his pilgrimage routes
• Florence – Renaissance gem in Tuscany, celebrated for its art, architecture, and as a starting point for the St. Francis Way
• Rimini – seaside city on the Adriatic coast in Emilia-Romagna, known for beaches and as a trailhead on the St. Francis network
• Spoleto – historic city in Umbria, famous for its Roman, medieval, and sacred sites along the St. Francis Way
• Spello – charming Umbrian town, notable for its ancient walls, floral displays, and accessible railway station for walkers
• Trevi – scenic hill town in Umbria, surrounded by olive groves and poppy fields, with a distinct medieval character
• La Verna – spiritual site in Tuscany, revered as the place where St. Francis received the stigmata, nestled in ancient forests
• Camaldoli Hermitage – not far from the La Verna Hermitage, this monastic hermitage in Tuscany, set in the ancient Foreste Casentinesi, significant in monastic and walking traditions
• Monteluco – mountain near Spoleto, known for its sacred woodland and Franciscan monastery
• Abbey of Farfa – historic abbey north of Rome, once a powerful medieval religious center along the southern trail
• Monterchi – location along the St. Francis Way, notable for the Madonna del Parto fresco by Piero della Francesca
• Pieve Santo Stefano – small Tuscan town, home to the unique Museo del Diario – the museum of personal journals from people all over Italy
• Loreto – Marian pilgrimage town in the Marche region, mentioned as a destination along Italian pilgrimage networks
• Santiago de Compostela – iconic city in northwestern Spain, the final goal of the renowned Camino de Santiago (St. James Way) 
• Casentino Forest (Foreste Casentinesi) – area in eastern Tuscany, celebrated for its extensive, centuries-old woodlands and peaceful trails

Food / Drink

• Montefalco Rosso – a well-known red wine from Umbria, offering a lighter taste
• Sagrantino wine – a bold and strong red wine from Umbria’s Montefalco region, renowned for its robust flavor
• trattoria meals – classic, convivial Italian meals found in local trattorias along the walking routes, highlighting regional cuisine

Words / Concepts

• St. Francis (San Francesco) – the patron saint of Italy, known for his message of poverty, simplicity, and environmental respect, whose life and legacy inspired the network of pilgrimage routes called the Way(s) of St. Francis
• Saint Francis Way official Facebook group – helpful in any language: admins can reply in English as well
• Way of St Francis English FB group – smaller English group created by Sandy Brown, author of the Cicerone Press guidebook of the route
• St Francis Way – helpful website created by Sandy Brown
• Cicerone Press – a publisher known for producing high-quality guidebooks for hikers and cyclists, including English-language books about the St. Francis Way
• Via di Francesco Credenziale – website for requesting the credentials of the trail
• The Fascia Olivata (Olive Belt) – in Umbria is a continuous 40-kilometer terraced landscape stretching between Assisi, Spello, Trevi, Campello sul Clitunno, and Spoleto
• Via Francigena – a historic pilgrimage route leading to Rome, another major walking trail attracting many international pilgrims
• Camino Family (Walking Family) – a term used by walkers and pilgrims to describe the community spirit and bonds formed between people traveling the same routes, especially on long-distance trails like the Camino de Santiago or St. Francis Way

Related content on Untold Italy

Podcasts

• Ep 323 – Active Italy – Walking and Cycling Trip Ideas for Curious Travelers
• Ep 308 – Travelers Guide to the Legacy of St Francis of Assisi
• Ep 223 – Delicious Umbria’s most tasty food experiences
• Ep 216 – 10 Reasons We Love Italy’s Umbria Region
• Ep 152 – Dishes to try in Bologna and the Emilia Region
• Ep 135 – Ancient Connections Along Puglia’s Pilgrim Trails
• Ep 122 – Amalfi Coast Hikes – Alternatives to the Path of the Gods
• Ep 117 – Porchetta, Pasta and Panzanella – Dishes from Umbria
• Ep 085 – Hiking the Dolomites
• Ep 084 – A Walking Tour of the Amalfi Coast
• Ep 016 – Visit Italy’s Le Marche region

Articles

• Emilia Romagna Travel Guide
• What to Eat in Emilia-Romagna
• Umbria Travel Guide
• Best Agriturismo Umbria
• Tuscany Travel Guide
• The Best Towns in Tuscany to visit and explore
• Hidden gems in Italy – Off the beaten path from North to South
• Introducing 50 incredibly beautiful small towns in Italy

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