Non est in toto sanctior orbe mons, say the words of an inscription located inside the Sanctuary. La Verna is not only the departure point, but one of the most sacred and captivating places of the entire journey. We advise you to spend the whole day here before your departure, in order to prepare yourself spiritually, by visiting the places that inspired St Francis. This leg is one of medium difficulty, the climb is gradual, but there are a few steep areas on Mount Calvano and Mount Modina, which serve to get your legs accustomed to the walk to Assisi.
The leg is approximately 15 km long and should be tackled slowly while enjoying the beauty of the woods, which are at their most lush in this area. There are water fountains at the beginning and at the end of the leg and there are no residential areas along the trail. Remember to fill your water bottle with at least 1.5 litres of water in the summer. Pieve Santo Stefano is famous as the "city of diaries" because it is the home of a fascinating public archive, in which there is a collection of writings by ordinary people that reflect, in various forms, the life of all the people and the history of Italy: they are diaries, letters and autobiographical memoirs. You can draw inspiration for your own diary of your journey to Assisi.