Eight women to undertake 376-km spiritual journey to Assisi

Eight women will embark on a 376-kilometer artistic and spiritual journey titled “888 – Le donne cantano San Francesco” from August 17 to 26, 2026. The pilgrimage connects the Santuario di Grazie di Curtatone in Mantua to the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, traversing the regions of Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Umbria.

The initiative commemorates two significant milestones: the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis and the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage in Italy. The project features a symbolic relay of eight artists who will use music, song, and oral traditions to explore themes of peace, freedom, and the relationship between humanity and nature.