We meet this afternoon at our hotel in Rome. Here we'll get to know our fellow travelers in an orientation meeting, then walk to dinner at a nearby restaurant for our first Italian dinner. Note: Rome sites and tours are not included. Participants are encouraged to arrive early to explore the city on their own. Overnight in Rome

Be ready this morning for your first day of discoveries. We depart Rome by private bus to visit the little-known village of Bomarzo, where we will explore the most unexpected and mysterious park in Italy: Sacro Bosco, or “Monsters Park”. It was conceived in the mid-1500 hundreds by the lord of the area, who had huge rocks sculpted on the spot, giving them forms of dreamlike creatures. Scholars have puzzled over the it’s meanings for centuries. We then continue to a family-owned pizzeria for our first group lunch then on to Orvieto, our home for the next two nights. Perched on a tufa plateau, Orvieto is celebrated for its cathedral, Etruscan heritage and excellent wine. We will enjoy a short walk around the town’s perimeter to an Etruscan archaeological site before dinner at a small local restaurant. Hiking distance: 2 miles, +/- 700 feet elevation gain. Overnight in Orvieto

Today we will explore Civita di Bagnoregio, a fragile medieval village perched on eroding volcanic cliffs—one of Italy’s most geologically dramatic landscapes. We learn about the area’s shifting geology and enjoy its sweeping vistas. After sampling typical bruschette and local wines, we return to Orvieto for free time. This evening you will have dinner on your own Hiking distance: 5 miles, +1,500 feet. Overnight in Orvieto.

In the morning we visit Bolsena, a peaceful lakeside village on Europe’s largest and cleanest volcanic lake—famous for its medieval Eucharistic Miracle, from which the celebration of Corpus Domini was extended to the whole Roman Catholic Church. Today we will enjoy picturesque views of the lake and a tranquil ambience that will bring us back to the past. After lunch in another small village, we will continue to our picturesque new home for the next seven nights, situated in the peaceful Umbrian countryside near Gubbio. En route we’ll stop at a local supermarket to pick up breakfast foods for our stay, and later we retire after another delicious dinner. Hiking distance: 2 miles, mostly flat. Overnight near Gubbio, Umbria (for seven nights).

This morning, we get our first glimpse of Gubbio, one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Italy, with a visit to its lively weekly outdoor market. We then set off to the area surrounding Gubbio to hike a beautiful loop trail along the backside of Monte Ingino, descending into Gubbio through forests, shrines, and a chapel used in filming a movie about St. Francis. We will enjoy a group lunch at the end of the hike, after which you will be able to opt for more hiking or for some free time in Gubbio town center to walk around and explore on own. Hiking distance: 4-5 miles, +/- 600-800 feet.

Today we hike the slopes of Monte Cucco, one of Umbria’s highest peaks, enjoying wildflowers, beech forests, mineral springs, and (on clear days) views to the Adriatic Sea. This protected area is a habitat for wolves and golden eagles, and home to a deep system of karst caves. After our hike we can enjoy the quiet of a small church where St. Francis frequently prayed and is associated with the legendary “Wolf of Gubbio”. Hiking distance: 4-5 miles, +1,500 feet.

Today we visit Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site central to the story of St. Francis and its surrounding areas. This popular pilgrimage town has been visited since the Middle Ages by the faithful. Throughout the centuries a number of beautiful and inspiring buildings have enriched it, making it a truly unforgettable place to visit. Our explorations begin with a peaceful hike through Mount Subasio Natural Park to the secluded Eremo delle Carceri, where Francis and his follower’s sought solitude among the holm oaks. This is perhaps the most iconic section of the Franciscan Trail—also significant for Italy’s modern environmental movement, inspired by Francis’s reverence for nature. Afterward we tour the magnificent Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, home to Giotto’s fresco cycle, and enjoy time wandering the town’s piazzas and viewpoints. Hiking distance: 4 miles, +1,500 feet.

Today we travel to Fonte Avellana, a monastery founded by hermits around 980 and later an intellectual hub where monks preserved ancient texts. Surrounded by chestnut trees and wildlife diversity, it was an important learning center at the time of St. Francis. It is regarded today as the place where history was remembered by monks who worked long hours transcribing ancient documents. Dante himself visited and wrote about it in the Divine Comedy. Continuing to Genga, we visit the remote sanctuary of Santa Maria Infra Saxa, and the dramatic Valadier’s Temple, set inside a mountain opening above a deep gorge. Our final stop is Fabriano, world-renowned for its production of fine paper and bank notes paper. At a local paper museum, we will learn how manuscripts of the Middle Ages were produced. Hiking distance: 3 miles, +/-900 feet.

In the morning, we will drive to the quaint hill town of Collepino, where we will begin our downhill walk to Spello, a charming town famous for its flower-adorned homes and medieval streets. After exploring Spello, and on our way back to Gubbio, we will visit Santa Maria delgi Angeli, a pilgrimage site where an enormous cathedral encloses a tiny 13th century church, the Porziuncola. This is one of the most important places for the Franciscans, as it was here that young Francis of Assisi discerned his vocation, affirming his dedication to live in absolute poverty, while advocating for the poor, the sick, and animals. Hiking distance: 3 miles, -1,200 feet.

Today we discover Gubbio’s layered history – its pre-Roman past, its amphitheater, and its deep civic traditions. We will then be invited to visit a historic palace, now a private home, where we will be transported back in time. We’ll learn about Gubbio's iconic Ceri Festival and what the people of Gubbio are doing to safeguard their cultural identity and traditions. From the palace’s windows, we will enjoy one of Gubbio’s traditional Ceri festival events before hiking up the front face of Monte Ingino to the Basilica of Sant’Ubaldo, the endpoint of the annual Ceri race. Hiking distance: 4-5 miles, +/- 600-800 feet.

Crossing into Tuscany, we stop at Trasimeno Lake to visit the Oasi Naturalistica La Valle, a bird sanctuary and research center along major migratory routes. We will learn about bird conservation in this area and may have the opportunity to observe bird-ringing. We will then continue to Cortona, the town made famous by the book Under the Tuscan Sun where will enjoy a short walking tour and a possible visit to Basilica of Santa Margherita or Le Celle hermitage.

En route to Arezzo we will stop for a visit of one of the best small olive oil productions in Italy – an unforgettable tasting experience. Afterwards we will arrive to our hotel in Arezzo where we will stay for the last two nights of the trip. Overnight in Arezzo, Tuscany.

Today we hike the Franciscan Trail to La Verna, another significant Franciscan center of Italy. The Sanctuary of La Verna, which sits on Monte Penna, was given to St. Francis by Count Orlando of Chiusi in 1213 as a retreat especially favorable for contemplation amidst nature. We will walk in silence through this old-growth, magical, spruce-beech forest, enjoying its soundscape. At the sanctuary, we will see the art of della Robbia and visit the site where St. Francis is said to have received the stigmata. After a simple monastery lunch, we return to Arezzo for free time before our farewell dinner. Hiking distance: 4 miles, +1,300-1,800 feet. Overnight in Arezzo.

After breakfast, participants can depart from Arezzo by train to Rome, Florence, or other cities to either fly home or further explore the wonders of Italy.