Italy launches 1,546‑km Franciscan pilgrimage network

The Italian government presented the "Cammino di Francesco – Il Cammino della Luce" at Palazzo Chigi on 30 July. The project, introduced by Deputy Secretary‑General of the Prime Minister’s Office Marco Villani, unifies existing Franciscan routes into a 1,546‑km trail that passes through Abruzzo, Emilia‑Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Tuscany and Umbria, ending in Assisi. Ministers Gianmarco Mazzi (Tourism) and Pietro Cannella (Culture) attended, and the trail is now listed on the official tourism platform Italia.it, offering maps and itineraries for visitors.

As part of the same centenary celebrations, a two‑day trekking event was held in Montefalco on 8‑9 August. Organized by the Union of Municipalities of the "Terre dell’Olio e del Sagrantino", the free walks for adults (9.5 km) and children (6 km) highlighted the historic links between Saint Francis and the local towns, featuring guided routes and cultural talks.