Festival of St Francis' Ways

 

Festival of Saint Francis' Ways: “Stay close to me and sing”

From 11 April to 31 May, seven weekends of events across Umbria and Tuscany to commemorate the eighth centenary of the Saint’s death and the tenth anniversary of the event organised by the Fondazione Progetto Valtiberina
 
The 10th edition of the Festival of Saint Fancis' Ways, scheduled to take place from 11 April to 31 May across Umbria and Tuscany, was presented on Wednesday 4 March in Brussels at the regional offices of Umbria and Tuscany within the European Union. An international launch that highlights the interregional and European dimension of a cultural project launched in 2017 on the initiative of the Fondazione Progetto Valtiberina and which has, over time, become one of the main platforms for reflection on contemporary Franciscanism, thanks in part to collaboration with a number of significant institutional partners such as the Opera and the Franciscan Community of Santa Croce in Florence, the Sacred Convent of Assisi – Basilica of St Francis and other historic institutions
 
The launch conference for the event, entitled “Paths that Unite: Interregionality as a Driver for Territorial Development”, focused on the value of footpaths as cultural infrastructure and a tool for territorial development, with contributions from the regions of Umbria and Tuscany, representatives of European institutions, and the Italian Ambassador to Belgium

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Ten years of the festival, eight hundred years of memories

 
2026 marks a double anniversary: the festival’s tenth anniversary and the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. This year’s edition is entitled “Stay close to me and sing. The Testament of Francis”, a phrase that runs through the saint’s final days and which today serves as a key to understanding the present
 
Not a rhetorical celebration, but an exploration of our times: through its usual itinerant format, including walks, talks and performances, the event will examine key issues such as the environmental crisis, end-of-life care, inclusion, disinformation, the social economy, disability, and the relationship between spirituality and science

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Brussels: interregional cooperation as a European model

 
The event in Brussels was not merely a symbolic launch, but a confirmation of a journey that sees the network of Franciscan trails as a cultural infrastructure capable of connecting regions
 

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A programme widely spread in the central hubs of Franciscanism

 
The 2026 Festival of Saint Francis' Ways takes place over seven consecutive weekends, from 11 April to 31 May, with stops at some of the most picturesque locations in Umbria and Tuscany
Each weekend combines themed walks – organised once again this year in collaboration with the Circolo degli Esploratori – cultural events and performances, in line with the concept behind the tenth edition

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For further information and to remain updated on the Festival’s events, walks and stages, please visit www.festivaldeicamminidifrancesco.it and follow the Festival on Facebook and Instagram (@festivaldeicamminidifrancesco).