Today, we will travel to Valfabbrica to start our walk. This is the final stretch of our journey to Assisi, following in the footsteps of St Francis. It has been an amazing journey, with many ups and downs, but today is a great day!
We will start by walking through the hills and woods, and then from Pieve San Niccolò, we will be greeted with a beautiful view of the valleys, dotted with olive groves and vineyards. The first part of the journey will take us through the forest, with some challenging uphill stretches to tackle.
As we catch our first glimpse of the Basilica of St. Francis, we will be filled with awe and a sense of accomplishment. This is a beautiful moment, a sign that our journey is almost complete. We will make our way to Assisi through the Bosco di San Francesco (Forest of St Francis) of the FAI (Italy's National Trust) we will make a small donation and walk through the woods to enter Assisi. This was the route taken by pilgrims who traveled from Assisi to Santiago de Compostela.
The Basilica of St Francis is a magnificent sight, especially when it is lit up by the sun. The moment we have been waiting for has arrived - we only need to reach the Saint's tomb. Here, in the soft everlasting light, we can reflect on our journey and gather our thoughts in prayer and meditation.
Before entering the Lower Basilica, we can stop by the Statio Peregrinorum to collect our well-deserved Testimonium.