In 1215 St. Francis walked the streets and paths that connected Assisi with Ascoli Piceno during a sort of pilgrimage and for his preaching in southern Marche.
The CFM traces the path that St. Francis followed at that time, from the current Basilica of Assisi to the Cathedral of Sant’Emidio d’Ascoli, where the sepulchre of the protector from earthquakes is kept. The CFM is therefore a cultural, naturalistic and spiritual pilgrimage of 8 stages that passes through roads, dirt roads and paths through places of great artistic, cultural and environmental value: in fact, along the 170 km of route you will be fascinated by the architectural beauty, the rural churches, villages, woods, rivers, mountains, and from the rural landscape you will encounter along the way.
The Franciscan pathway touches four parks: Mount Subasio, Altolina, Colfiorito and the Sibillini National Park, a unique opportunity to get to know these territories thoroughly and at the right pace. A path to be taken-on without pressure, without feeling you have to complete it entirely, one or two stages or even only a section can be walked.
Leg 1: Assisi - Foligno, Distance: 19 km, Elevation gain: 430 m, Time: 5 h
Leg 2: Foligno - Colfiorito, Distance: 25 km, Elevation gain: 930 m, Time: 8 h
Leg 3: Colfiorito - Pievebovigliana, Distance: 23 km, Elevation gain: 750 m, Time: 7 h
Leg 4: Pievebovigliana - Villa di Montalto, Distance: 21 km, Elevation gain: 300 m, Time: 5 h
Leg 5: Villa di Montalto - Sarnano, Distance: 20 km, Elevation gain: 800 m, Time: 6 h
Leg 6: Sarnano - Comunanza, Distance: 22 km, Elevation gain: 720 m, Time: 6 h
Leg 7: Comunanza - Venarotta, Distance: 21 km, Elevation gain: 720 m, Time: 6 h
Leg 8: Venarotta - Ascoli Piceno, Distance: 15 km, Elevation gain: 360 m, Time: 4 h
https://hiking.passamontagna.org/the-most-beautiful-hikes-in-le-marche-italy/item/156-cammino-francescano-della-marca-trekking#sigProGalleria5ed54636bc