Book Description

The St. Francis Camino (also known as the Way of St. Francis) is a spiritual walking pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Francis through central Italy between Laverna and Rome. It can be walked either north or south. This edition conceives of the walk beginning in Greccio, site of the first Nativity scene, and finishing with the goal of Assisi. Divided into ten stages, the 160-km trek is an intimate way to connect spiritually with the humble saint from Assisi by walking on the same land he walked. This guidebook offers practical tips regarding packing, traveling in Italy, setting up GPX tracks, as well as obtaining the Pilgrim's Passport and Testimonium. Each stage includes daily distances, altitude gains and losses, surface type, duration, and level of difficulty. Next is a brief description of the stage with useful notes as well as a succinct textual description of the route. Lastly, there is a list of Franciscan and spiritual sites along each day's route. Yet, this book is intended to serve more as a spiritual, or Franciscan, companion book. As such, it focuses less on step-by-step instructions and more on the spiritual aspect of pilgrimage. With a foreword by the Archbishop of Lucca, Mons. Paolo Giulietti, this book includes essays on spirituality, daily Franciscan reflections, writings and prayers by St. Francis as well as the early Franciscan biographers. Additionally, there are traditional Catholic and Franciscan prayers for guidance before, during and after the journey. Walking in the footsteps of the "Poverello" -- from Greccio, representing the birth of Christ, to Assisi, his city -- is an unparalleled journey into the heart and spirit of St. Francis. And this book will bring it to life.