St. Francis Way – Firenze to La Verna Tour

Arrive in Firenze and bask in the city’s atmosphere. Take a stroll along the tiny alleys and end up in piazza dei Miracoli or climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo to get a panoramic view at sunset. You can explore however you please–consider pre-booking additional days in Florence before you start your pilgrimage.

After a short transfer by train or bus you start walking towards La Consuma Pass. It's a long walk that runs from the bottom of the valley to the top of the mountains at Consuma Pass, with great views over the Sieve Valley. You walk mostly in the shade of the forest, passing by Ferrano castle.

At the end of the walk a short transfer will lead you to the small hamlet of Caiano.

A morning transfer will lead you back to Consuma. From the pass you descend easily to the bottom of Casentino Valley. Most of the itinerary runs inside the woods, with an optional detour to the village of Castel Castagnaio. You also have the option of an alternative route with great panoramic views over the Casentino Valley before you reach the beautiful hamlet of Stia.

Today you have a long and demanding walk in terms of elevation change. Start at the bottom of the valley, heading up through the Apennines before descending to Camaldoli monastery, walking through the Cosentino's rural landscape until you reach the fascinating Eremo di Camaldoli, dating back to the 11th century.

Today a relatively short walk from Monastero di Camaldoli to the top of the mountain’s edge, and then down to the village of Badia Prataglia. The walk runs mostly inside the forests. There is also an alternative route you can follow that is 6km longer but more interesting in terms of landscape, with spectacular views of southern Casentino valley, its villages, and the surrounding mountains.

Today’s walk runs through the forests to the hamlet of Frassineta, from where you can enjoy panoramic views of Vallesanta, La Verna mountain, and the Apennines ridge. Continue to Casa Santicchio where you can find a nice spot for dinner.

Today you finally arrive in Chiusi della Verna. Head for the hotel and check-in. If you arrive early enough, you can visit the Franciscan Sanctuary in the afternoon. The Sanctuary is open every day of the year from 06:30 to 19:30 hrs (22:00 hrs in summer). Find a terrace to grab a celebratory drink on

NOTE: To enter the Sanctuary, you need to cover your chest and arms and wear trousers/skirts to the knee.

After breakfast, the tour comes to an end. Safe travels!