Saint Francis’ Ways

The figure of St Francis, almost eight centuries after his death, is more alive than ever. In recent years, the places he frequented in his incessant wandering have become part of splendid itineraries to be followed on foot, by bicycle and on horseback, the Saint Francis Ways, which link the land of Arezzo to Assisi. The routes in the footsteps of the saint are authentic journeys of the body and spirit, allowing one to relive the sensations experienced by St. Francis with today’s eyes and to stop in places that still preserve the memory of his words and deeds.

In the territory of Arezzo, the Poor Man of Assisi found refuge several times and spent part of his life. To some of these places he was deeply attached until his death.

The Saint Francis Ways that cross the valleys of Arezzo are routes to be experienced in groups, in pairs or alone, moving in total autonomy with itineraries of different lengths and difficulties, where one can enjoy experiences that combine nature, spirituality, art and culture.

The Cammino della Casella is a route in contact with the flora of the Casentino forest and its great inhabitants: wolves and deer. Starting from the Hermitage of Camaldoli, you arrive at the Casella Hermitage, where the small stone chapel dedicated to St Francis and the hermitage that welcomes wayfarers stand. This itinerary passes through the health resort of Badia Prataglia and the Valle Santa, to reach the Sanctuary of La Verna.

The Cammino delle Celle is the natural continuation of the previous route. Passing through Caprese Michelangelo, the route goes to Montauto and Anghiari with its Church of the Cross. From here the route continues towards Arezzo, to stop at the Basilica of San Francesco, which houses the cycle of frescoes with “The Legend of the True Cross” by Piero della Francesca and hosts the relics of Benedetto Sinigardi, a Franciscan of the first hour, who was provincial minister of the order in the Holy Land. His mortal remains are kept in the right wall of the church. The Franciscan story of the “Expulsion of the Devils”, admirably depicted by Giotto in the Basilica Superiore (Upper Basilica) in Assisi, also refers to Arezzo.

Leaving the city, the route continues into the Val di Chiana in the direction of Cortona, where the Church of San Francesco, the Sanctuary of Santa Margherita, which belonged to the Third Secular Franciscan Order, and the Eremo delle Celle hermitage, linked to Friar Elias, one of the first followers of the saint and minister general of the order, can be admired.

The Cammino di Montecasale (Montecasale Way), known for the peace and tranquillity one breathes when crossing its forests, leads from the Sanctuary of La Verna to the Hermitage of Montecasale and the Church of San Francesco in Sansepolcro, passing through Pieve Santo Stefano and the Hermitage of Cerbaiolo. From the Montecasale Way, the route continues towards Assisi via the Tuscan and Umbrian Valtiberina, passing through Citerna, Monterchi and Città di Castello. Another route starts from Montecasale and moves towards Romagna with the Cammino di San Leo (San Leo Way), which reaches the Rocca di San Leo via Badia Tedalda, Sestino and Sasso di Simone.