Trace his life on foot through the hilltop villages of Umbria and stay in rustic farm villas
Eight-night-long, self-guided walking holiday with accommodation, pack-free
Book this holiday by January 31, 2026, to save five per cent
2026 marks the 800th anniversary of the death of one of the world’s most famous and beloved saints, St Francis of Assisi, who is credited with inventing the Christmas nativity scene in 1223 which is still used today.
To help travellers trace the life of Italy’s patron saint through the wooded hillsides, olive groves, medieval hilltop towns and ancient abbeys of enchanting Umbria where St Francis lived, European walk operator, On Foot Holidays, is offering an eight-night, self-guided, inn-to-inn walking holiday through Umbria. The trek enables travellers to authentically and spiritually connect with the region and stay at boutique hotels, rustic villas and farmhouses along the way, with their luggage transferred ahead each day so hikers can follow the trail unencumbered by heavy rucksacks.
Born in Assisi in Umbria in 1181, the young Francis enjoyed a lavish lifestyle as part of a prosperous family but after a strange vision came to him, he devoted himself to a life of poverty and prayer. Preaching a message of brotherly love, peace and respect for the natural world in the mountains of Umbria and beyond, the devoted friar attracted a following that led to the founding of the Franciscan Order in 1210. Francis loved Christmas and, inspired by his visit to the Holy Land and using animals and villagers, created the world’s first manger nativity scene in 1223 in a rustic chapel hewn from rock near the Umbrian hamlet of Greccio. Today, millions of people worldwide still add nativity scenes to their Christmas trees.
Francis died in Assisi in 1226 and was declared a saint in 1228 when the building of the Basilica of St Francis was begun in Assisi. Today he is venerated around the world for his example of caring for the poor and needy, and as the patron saint of ecology, and is still very much present in the lives of present-day pilgrims.
Curated for independent travellers, On Foot Holidays’ eight-night journey through Umbria journey begins in the medieval town of Spoleto, just south of Assisi which walkers can explore before starting the walk. The route then takes hikers over vine-clad hills to the lake at Piediluco and up to the picturesque hilltop village of Labro. From there, travellers will cross to the Sabine Hills at Greccio – where Saint Francis devised the Christmas nativity scene, with travellers still able to visit his secluded hermitage 800 years after his death.
The journey then continues through woodland, bucolic pastures and hilltop villages before arriving at Casperia, one of the most picturesque medieval villages in the region. There, guests will stay at La Torretta – a boutique B&B located in a 15th century historic house. Reachable only on foot, the elegant B&B boasts the opportunity, as an optional extra special experience, for guests to learn how to prepare a traditional Italian four course meal with pasta made from scratch and sourced from local ingredients. Guests can taste the fruit of their labours in the evening, accompanied by local wines and an after-dinner liqueur.
The final two days of hiking will bring you through open woodlands around Misciani to the pretty village of Castelnuovo and then to two abbeys – the thriving Abbey of Farfa and the meagre hilltop ruins of San Martino. From this last vantage point you may be lucky enough to glimpse Rome in the distance. The final night is spent at a restored farmhouse at Santo Pietro, where you can mark the end of the adventure with an authentic Italian meal, included in the trip, made from the farm’s own produce.
The walk is 104km long, available between April and October and rated medium-hard with 8-21km of walking per day. Including eight nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation, four dinners, two picnics, local transfers, luggage transfers, and all directions, information and maps – printed or in digital version, the walk costs from £1305 per person, twin-share (approximately A$2641 depending on exchange rates). Shorter four and five-night options are available as well as a nine-night holiday which includes three nights at the beautiful, organic farm of Le Mole sul Farfa.
Save by booking by January 31, 2026
* On Foot Holidays is offering a five per cent saving on the Umbria holiday price (excluding extras, single supplements etc) if the walk is booked by January 31, 2026. Use promotional code UMB5.
