Rieti to Assisi:Via di Francesco with Mark Goodman,
April 25 - May 5, 2026

Overview

Beloved among the saints, Francis of Assisi spent much time in the Rieti Valley, today called The Holy Valley of Rieti. Four Franciscan sanctuaries ring this circular valley and to get to know St Francis best, we begin our tour by visiting each of them. From Rieti we walk north to other important sites in the life of Francis, ending in Assisi, his birthplace and final resting place. This walk is steeped in the life and spirit of Francis, with daily stories told by your Pilgrim Paths host, Mark Goodman, who has a keen eye and much experience on telling the stories of spirituality. At the end, two days of additional touring in and around Assisi are offered. If you love St Francis, this is a prime opportunity to know more about him and the land he loved so much.

Map of the route

Daily Itinerary

Saturday, April 25, 2026 - Gather in Rieti

Description

Today we meet each other and gather for an orientation in Rieti. People who arrive early may be interested in the Underground Rieti Tour that shows Rieti’s ancient connection to the Salt Road (Via Salaria) and its existence as a lakeside town whose lake long ago was drained. Dinner and overnight in Rieti.

distance: 0 km

ascent: 0 m

descent: 0 m

% hard surfaces: 0

difficulty rating: 0

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Sunday, April 26, 2026 – Walking Tour From Greccio To Fonte Colombo Franciscan Sanctuaries

Description

On the left side of the Holy Valley are two Franciscan sanctuaries – Greccio and Fonte Colombo. Greccio is known throughout the Franciscan world as the place where Francis inaugurated the Christmas manger scene. There are dozens of them here on display, from all throughout the world. After a transfer to Greccio and a tour, we walk to Fonte Colombo, enjoying constant vistas of the Holy Valley. Fonte Colombo is where Francis created his community rule, and today this oasis of tranquility has a calming effect on everyone who stops in.

distance: 22.8 km

ascent: 526 m

descent: 771 m

% hard surfaces: 65%

difficulty rating: 7

Monday, April 27, 2026 – Rieti To Poggio Bustone

Description

From Rieti the group walks to the third and fourth Franciscan sanctuaries – La Foresta and Poggio Bustone. La Foresta is known as the place of Francis’s miracle of wine, while Poggio Bustone has its roots deeply in the saint’s life of prayer since it was here Francis had the dreams that launched him on his mission.

distance: 16.9 km

ascent: 623 m

descent: 292 m

% hard surfaces: 70%

difficulty rating: 7

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – Walk 13km From Poggio Bustone To Piediluco

Description

Near a lonely mountaintop lies a mythical tree, said to have sheltered Francis of Assisi during a storm by wrapping its limbs around the saint. We journey to the tree, then head downhill to the ghost town of Labro to explore its alleys and walls. From there it’s downhill to Piediluco, a quiet lake where Francis preached and performed miracles.

distance: 20.3 km

ascent: 516 m

descent: 877 m

% hard surfaces: 62%

difficulty rating: 8

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 – Walk 10km From Piediluco To Castedilago

Description

This short and relatively flat day features the cool mists of the largest human-made waterfall in the world, Cascata delle Marmore. Afterward we overnight at a hilltop village with views toward the mountains and the green Nera Valley.

distance: 12.8 km

ascent: 85 m

descent: 241 m

% hard surfaces: 41%

difficulty rating: 6

Thursday, April 30, 2026 – Walk 14.5km From Casteldilago To Macenano

Description

Heading up the Nera Valley, we enjoy a cycle trail that carries us to one of the most atmospheric overnights of the journey – a night at Abbazia San Pietro (depending on availability). This 10th c monastery has become a hotel and wedding venue, and there’s no place like it for views, quiet, and history.

distance: 11.1 km

ascent: 126 m

descent: 87 m

% hard surfaces: 35%

difficulty rating: 5

Friday, May 1, 2026 – Macenano To Spoleto

Description

This is the toughest of hiking days in the tour, with a long uphill to arrive in one of Umbria’s favourite towns – Spoleto. After a green and quiet journey with views of the Nera Valley, we visit the Franciscan convent at Monteluco. Then it’s downhill to a highlight as we enjoy photogenic Spoleto, with a rest day tomorrow.

distance: 20.1 km

ascent: 798 m

descent: 726 m

% hard surfaces: 31%

difficulty rating: 9

Saturday, May 2, 2026 - Rest Day In Spoleto

Description

Although we’re resting, there’s still much to do, like touring the Spoleto Duomo, which contains a handwritten letter of St Francis himself. Then we may want to visit the Longobard Church of San Salvatore, a treasure of medieval church building. Then there’s Spoleto’s mighty fortress that broods over the city. Fill the extra time with the markets and shops of this lovely town that you’ll want to see again and again.

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ascent: 0 m

descent: 0 m

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Sunday, May 3, 2026 – Spoleto (Poreta) To Trevi

Description

Settlement in Italy at one time happened in the lowlands, where Rome made certain there was peace. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, towns moved up into the hills to stay safe behind castle walls. Today is a day of castles and hill towns as we hug the olive-tree covered mountainside and enjoy the views of the Spoletino Valley below.

distance: 26.9 km

ascent: 982 m

descent: 907 m

% hard surfaces: 51%

difficulty rating: 8

Monday, May 4, 2026 – Walk 19km From Trevi To Spello

Description

Now we make our way down to the valley floor and visit the busy and commercial hub of Foligno, which was a market town even in the day of St. Francis. In fact, it’s here he sold his father’s cloth, earning the wrath of his more pecuniary parent and inadvertently causing the beginning of his ministry. From there it’s flat walking to Spello, a hillside gem, full of churches and history, from its Roman walls to its Renaissance frescoes.

distance: 18.6 km

ascent: 168 m

descent: 339 m

% hard surfaces: 81%

difficulty rating: 6

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – Walk 12km From Spello To Assisi

Description

Monte Subasio is clearly identified from the distance for its bald top, which actually is a vast pasture, home to wild horses. We begin with a stiff walk up the hill (or ride in the van), then enjoy the walk along the lowest portion of Monte Subasio’s grassy crown. From here we can see views beyond Perugia and Assisi. A walk downhill brings us by one of Francis’s favourite retreats, Eremo delle Carceri, a jail-turned-convent tucked into the forested slopes of the mountain. It’s downhill then to Assisi, where we celebrate our accomplishment of walking Rieti to Assisi.

distance: 13.1 km

ascent: 362 m

descent: 237 m

% hard surfaces: 64%

difficulty rating: 6

Wednesday, May 6, 2025 – Optional Extra Day #1: Assisi Touring

Description

Today we enjoy a tour of the inside of the Basilica di San Francesco, whose upper and lower sanctuaries are covered with medieval frescoes, with the Tomb of St Francis in the crypt below. We visit other important sites in Assisi, from the Rocca Maggiore fortress at the top of town to San Damiano at the bottom, each with its own memory of Francis to share. The afternoon is free and we gather in the evening for dinner.

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Thursday May 7, 2026 – Optional Extra Day #2 - Assisi Environs

Description

There are many sites important to St Francis near Assisi, so we walk downhill to the Porziuncola in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, where’s Francis’s ministry was centered, and then hop in the van to tour sites like Rivotorto, Bevagna, and Montefalco. The afternoon is free, but we gather together for dinner to enjoy each other’s company one last time and to raise a toast to the saint who brought us all here and who inspires us to this day.

distance: 0 km

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descent: 0 m

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