Once the idea of a pilgrimage to Assisi was planted in my head – it wouldn’t shift. I invested in a guidebook and amongst the varied routes I could choose Florence to Assisi via La Verna was the one I kept coming back to. It is at least 275km (170 miles) through the hills, and mountains of Tuscany and Umbria in central Italy.

You can check out my route using the following link:-

https://hiiker.app/hikes/users/via-di-francesco–1071824465

It was to be a significant physical challenge with over 12,200 meters of ascent over the eighteen days of walking.

Most importantly it wasn’t just a walk, it was a religious pilgrimage. I wasn’t looking for a new direction in my life, or some great revelation. If there was one thing I hoped for from this was a phrase from Saint Francis of Assisi’s prayer before the crucifix

Most high, glorious God,
Enlighten the darkness of my heart
Give me true faith.
Give me certain hope.
Give me perfect Charity.
Give me Lord the sense and knowledge,
that I may carry out
Your true and holy command.

A recurring theme as I walked through these awesome landscapes was the Canticle of the Creatures written by Saint Francis.

Most high, most powerful, good Lord
Praise, glory and honour, and all blessing are yours.
To you alone, most high, do they belong,
And no one is worthy to speak your name
Praise to you, my Lord, and to all your creation,
Especially Sir Brother Sun, who is our day, and you give us light through him.
And he is beautiful, and shines with great splendour.
From you, most high, he takes his meaning.
Praise be to you, my Lord, from Sister Moon and the stars:
In the heavens you have formed them, shining and precious and beautiful.
Praise be to you, my Lord, from Brother Wind,
And from air and cloud and calm and all weathers,
Through which you give your creatures nourishment.
Praise be to you, my Lord, from Sister Water,
Who is so useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praise be to you, my Lord, from Brother Fire,
Through whom you lighten our night:
And he is handsome and merry and vigorous and strong.
Praise be to you, my Lord, from our sister Mother Earth,
who nourishes and sustains us,
And brings forth her various fruits, with many-coloured flowers and grasses.
Praise be to you, my Lord, from those who forgive for love of you,
Bearing weakness and tribulation.
Blessed are those who bear them in peace,
For by you, Most High, will they be crowned.
Praise be to you, my Lord, from our Sister Bodily Death,
From which no one living can escape:
Woe to those who die in mortal sin:
Blessed are those whom she shall find doing your most holy will,
For the second death shall not harm them.
Praise and bless and give thanks to my Lord,
And serve him with great humility.

It also was a journey in time and space.
Time in terms of the days of travel to get to the start and finish and then the eighteen days of walking. Also the echoes of St Francis along the way especially at the Sanctuary of La Verna and at Assisi. I will start walking in the season of Easter climb to the mountain on the eve of Ascension and arrive at my destination on the Feast of Pentecost.
In space I leave from the very busy city of Florence with its crowds and tourists through quieter towns and villages to the busy city of Assisi with its crowds and tourists.
I am still working out what all that means. You can follow my journey here