Is there any place more lovely than Santuario della Verna?
 Occasionally in travel you have the joy of stumbling upon a place with a special aura, a spiritual vibe that requires no introduction or description. It exudes a sort of warmth and quiet, a hush that beckons and calms. This is so true at Santuario della Verna, the centerpiece of the northern sections of the Via di Francesco. The beauty of the forests around this Franciscan sanctuary is legendary, but there is a story that goes deeper than its purely physical beauty.
"La Verna," as it is lovingly called by many, is most famous as the place where Francis of Assisi received the marks of the stigmata. Before Francis, it was already a place of history and spirit.
"Laverna" in the ancient world was a goddess, protectress of refugees, thieves and exiles. The mountain of La Verna in Tuscany (now part of the Casentino National Forest) was dedicated to her, perhaps due to the many caves and crevices that provided good hiding places for people seeking cover.
In 1213, Count Orlando of Chiusi met Francis of Assisi and was so overwhelmed by his preaching that he gave Francis Mount La Verna, which he owned. From that point on, Francis found spiritual solace in the quiet of this remote mountain peak, and he stayed many nights in the caves near the top. His last visit was in the year 1224.
Soon after Francis' death, when his stigmata were discovered by his followers, La Verna became a key Franciscan sanctuary. The "Chapel of the Stigmata" was built on a far precipice of the site, along with a church of Santa Maria degli Angeli (where Count Orlando's body is interred) and finally a basilica devoted to the saint who started it all.
Santuario della Verna was also beloved of other Franciscan saints, like St. Bonaventure and St. Anthony of Padua, and chapels there venerate their lives. The artist Andrea della Robbia created ceramic bas relief sculptures that adorn the chapels and create a unique atmosphere in the holiest worship centers on the mountain. Green and quiet hiking trails allow for solitary meditation around the sanctuary and on adjoining Mount Penna.
Pilgrims to Santuario della Verna are invited to join in a daily procession by the friars from the Basilica of San Francesco, in the center of the sanctuary complex, to the Chapel of the Stigmata that dangles on a nearby cliff. With only a brief interruption during World War II, this procession has been held every day for near 800 years. In fact, the story goes that when the friars decided to cancel the procession due to deep snow one winter day, they awoke the next morning to discover the prints of forest animals who had made the procession in the friars' absence!
Great care has been taken to protect the sanctuary and its surrounding forests. This leafy refuge invites busy people to find rest and solitude. It's little wonder that Santuario della Verna is considered one of the holiest places in all of Italy.
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 With experience based on walking over 4,500 kilometers on pilgrim routes in Europe, we've put together a suite of 2017 pilgrimage itineraries in gorgeous Italy that are perfect for either the first time pilgrim or for experienced pilgrims who want a strong support infrastructure helping them along the way. Here's how we do it:
- Full van service is provided each and every day;
- Full baggage service supports us all the way;
- High-quality accommodations are our home each night;
- A limit of 10 per group means close friendships;
- Accompanied by Via di Francesco expert, Sandy Brown, author of The Way of St. Francis: From Florence to Assisi and Rome
We make sure you're fully prepared to flourish on your walk with our packing lists and training recommendations. We translate for you as needed, and best of all, we become pilgrim family with each other as we walk in these beautiful and memorable steps in gorgeous Italy. Some spots are left. Join us! -- Sandy Brown, Owner
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