La Verna is not just the starting point of the St Francis' Way, it is one of the journey’s holiest and most powerful sites. We suggest you spend a day here preparing yourself spiritually before you leave, going to the places from which St Francis drew so much inspiration.
Travelling over the St Francis' Way is also a great way to get to know the people, the landmarks, works of art and the history of the places he spent time in, so we suggest you travel slowly, enjoy each stop and soak up the innate spirituality.
Make sure you pick up your Pilgrim’s Credential in which to collect stamps and add mementoes of your journey. The day’s first leg will take you from Tuscany into Umbria, along a relatively easy route that is mostly downhill or flat until Pieve Santo Stefano where a series of ascents and descents begin that lead you to Sansepolcro, and then to the final 3 km uphill stretch to the town of Citerna. It’s a really great way to get into the mood of the St Francis' Way without too much difficulty, to prepare yourself physically, and spiritually, for the greater effort that will be required of you in the days to come. The route today goes over roads with minor traffic and you’ll be pedalling surrounded by the natural beauty of the woods that around La Verna and Montedoglio Lake, an artificial basin along the Tiber. You will also get a chance to take in some art and culture in the towns you pass through: Pieve Santo Stefano, Sansepolcro and Citerna.