The Way of St. Francis

The Via di Francesco, or Way of St. Francis, traces the routes St. Francis of Assisi walked to carry out his ministry and serve as he founded the Franciscan Order. Stretching to include Florence, La Verna Sanctuary, Assisi, and Rome, the Way of St. Francis offers multiple routes and can be completed in either the North or south direction.

A humble man who rejected his family’s wealth and devoted his life to the service of the poor, St. Francis is one of the most venerated figures in Christianity and is the Patron Saint of Italy, animals, and ecology. Shortly after his conversion, Francis walked his first pilgrimage to Rome from his home in Assisi, where he lived in solidarity with the begging poor outside St. Peter’s Basilica. Years later, Francis returned to Rome with his first disciples to petition Pope Innocent III for approval of their religious order. Innocent III would approve their petition, officially founding the Franciscan Order. Francis continued to pilgrimage to Rome throughout his life to secure additional approvals for the Order.

Over the centuries, pilgrims have used the Via di Francesco to walk in the footsteps of this holy saint. Of the various routes and directions, the pilgrimage from Assisi to Rome celebrates the inspired founding of the Franciscan Order. Although the route is rich in history, it wouldn’t be formalized until the late 20th century. Today, it is one of the most significant as the connection between two monumental sites of devotion.