Exploring Italy in the footsteps of Saint Francis is about to get easier thanks to a new project bringing together walks tracing the history of the Franciscan Order.
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Tourists can now discover the various routes of the Cammino di Francesco – Il Cammino della Luce (The Way of Francis – The Way of Light) on the Italian tourism board website.
In total, the routes cover a length of 1,546 kilometres and span the regions of Abruzzo, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Tuscany and Umbria.
All of the routes end in Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis. The network launch is part of celebrations for the eighth centenary of the death of Italy’s patron saint, and comes ahead of the Pope’s visit to Assisi on Thursday 6 August.
“Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Italy not only for the greatness of his religious testimony, but also because he embodies values that are part of our country's deepest identity,” Pietro Cannella, Italy’s Undersecretary of Culture, said.
“His love for creation, his closeness to the most vulnerable, his dialogue with those who are different, and his choice of peace as a path to coexistence continue to speak to contemporary society.
“This is the true meaning of this project: uniting places, institutions, and people around a shared heritage, making culture a tool for national cohesion and international dialogue.”
Ahead of your trip, you can request your credenziale, or pilgrim’s passport, online, and it will be stamped and dated along your journey.
There are different passports for the different routes, and you can even get a passport for your pet.
Those who complete the final 100km to the tomb of St Francis on foot, or 200km on bike, will be issued with a document proving you completed the pilgrimage.