We talk about pilgrimage a lot on Wandering Italy. A surprising number of people walk the Via Francigena from Canturbury to Rome, for example, but it’s still a very small group. For many Americans, the route takes too much time.
But there’s a compelling walk from Rieti I’ve just learned about. You can do the 80 km in four days. The Saint Francis Walk passes a lake and other interesting natural features:
The Walk includes visits to the sanctuaries where Frances traveled to: the Sanctuaries of Poggio Bustone, La Foresta, Fonte Colombo and Greccio. It is completed by a climb up Mount Terminillo with a visit to the reliquary of the Saint, a stop at the town of Posta and an excursion to the solitary and majestic Faggio di San Francesco (Saint Francis Beech Tree), in the town of Rivodutri. The itinerary that winds along 80 km of paths and roads immersed in a spectacular natural setting is the perfect occasion to renew thanks to the heavens just like Saint Francis did in The Canticle of All Creatures. ~ The Saint Francis Walk
The web site is a good one also—but only in Italian. Still, if you’re wanting to try out a spiritual walk that isn’t too long for your 2 or 3 week vacation in Italy, this could be just the ticket: Camino di San Francesco.