The Saint Francis' Walk 

“And the tall, black, mysterious Verna enters history from this aerial eagle's nest carved out of the rock”

This quote by Monsignor Antonio Tani (from “San Francesco nel Montefeltro”, 1926), recalls the event that is at the origin of the Way. In the town of San Leo (ancient Mons Feretri), St Francis was gifted Mount La Verna by Count Orlando Catani of Chiusi in Casentino on 8 May 1213. It is also where he received his stigmata in 1224 and where the sanctuary, one of the main sites in Franciscan history, now stands.

 

First leg: from Rimini to Villa Verucchio

  

The first leg starts from Tempio Malatestiano. You cross quickly the historic center reaching the first hills behind the town and the Valley of Marecchia. In the city, the route touches the church of Santa Chiara, where probably San Francesco stayed and the ancient cloister of San Bernardino which is home to the Clarisse nuns. Then the leg rises rapidly towards the first hills behind Rimini, where you reach the Franciscan sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie, protected by the Friars Minor. With several ups and downs you get to the suburb of Vergiano, at the beginning of Valmarecchia. Here an ancient tradition says  that St. Francis was hosted for a night in a modest house where he was offered a cypress stick as support for the journey, planted by the Saint in Villa Verucchio. That stick would later become the current ancient tree. Later the itinerary leads you to the beautiful historical and natural path up along the river Marecchia (possible detour to Santarcangelo), up to Villa Verucchio, where, on the hill above the modern town, is the convent of Santa Croce (quarters). An oral history tells that St. Francis, along the Valmarecchia, probably in 1215 from Rimini, stayed at a country chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross, and built a poor wooden hut. This is considered the nucleus of the monastery, documented the first time in 1311. The Friars Minor can host you in guesthouse "San Francesco" (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., hospitality in self-management; reservations required). It is possible to visit the church, built in sec. XIV and consecrated 16 June 1400; the cloister with the famous cypress and the St. Francis chapel. Very interesting historical center of Verucchio that requires a deviation from the main leg.

 

Download track 1st leg GPX format

Download route variant to Santarcangelo GPX format

Distance: 22,2 km

Height difference: +415 m, -291 m

Times: from Rimini to convent of Holy Cross 5 h 30 ' ; from convent to Rimini 5 h 30 '

 

HOSPITALITY

 

Casa per Ferie Don Bosco Rimini, +39 0541 1788202, +39 371 3689380, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Foresteria Convento Santa Croce, +39 0541 391072, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Villa Verucchio, ATTENTION: call this accommodation facility during COVID emergency

Casa Verù, Via Borgo Sant’Antonio 3C, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., on the way 45' minutes after Convento Santa Croce

Associazione Pro Loco Verucchio, +39 0541 670222, www.prolocoverucchio.it

B&B Le Case Rosse, +39 0541 670530, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., near the track at 2 km from convent of Holy Cross

B&B A Ca' Mia, Marilena 388 1874738 / 0541 670927, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Residenza turistica Cesarina, Verucchio, 0541.679800, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

 

RESTAURANT POINTS ALONG THE WAY

Covignano's hill - Bar Ilde, +39 0541 753274  (near the way - closed in winter)

Restaurant: Casa Zanni, Villa Verucchio, www.casazanni.it, tel. +39 0541 678449

Tiee Cibo&Vino, Verucchio, 339 4892376, tipicità italiane eccellenze enogastronomiche

Ristorante La Fratta, Verucchio, 0541 671181, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.