OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 1, 2026

Day 1 – Arrival in Spoleto

Participants will arrive in Spoleto and check in at the Palazzo Leti by mid-day. Group transportation will be provided from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport that morning for those wishing to join the transfer.

In the late afternoon, the group will gather for a brief orientation and introductory lecture offering an overview of the week’s themes. This will be followed by a guided walking tour of historic Spoleto, providing context for the region and its significance, before concluding the day with a welcome dinner.

Day 2 – Assisi: The Early Life of Francis

The group will travel to Assisi for a full day of exploration. Visits will include San Rufino, where Francis was baptized; the Chiesa Nuova, traditionally identified as the site of his family home; Santa Chiara; and the Basilica of St. Francis. Time will also be spent in the adjacent museum and crypt, deepening understanding of Franciscan history, art, and spirituality.

Day 3 – Assisi: Solitude and Simplicity

Returning to the outskirts of Assisi, the group will visit the Porziuncola at Santa Maria degli Angeli, the humble chapel central to the Franciscan story, followed by a visit to the Eremo delle Carceri, a hermitage set high above the valley where Francis sought solitude and prayer. After descending from the hermitage, the day will conclude with a visit to a local olive mill for a tasting and introduction to regional production.

Day 4 – Birth of the Recreation of the Nativity

The day begins with a visit to Fonte Colombo, where Francis composed the Rule of the Order. The group will then travel to the Sanctuary of Greccio, where Francis created the first Nativity scene, an event that continues to shape Christian tradition and imagination. Together, these sites offer insight into Francis’s leadership, creativity, and pastoral vision.

Day 5 – Gubbio: Reconciliation and Community

Travel to the medieval hill town of Gubbio to visit the Palazzo dei Consoli and explore the site associated with the Legend of the Wolf. This story of reconciliation and community responsibility provides a powerful reflection on leadership, peacebuilding, and the relationship between individuals and society.

Day 6 – La Verna and Arezzo

The group will journey to La Verna, the remote mountain sanctuary where Francis received the stigmata. Time will be devoted to reflection and exploration of the site. En route, the group will stop in Arezzo to visit the Chiesa di San Francesco, home to Piero della Francesca’s renowned fresco cycle.

Day 7 – Bevagna and Montefalco

Visits today include Bevagna, the small town associated with Francis’s sermon to the birds, and Montefalco, known for its medieval character and sweeping views of the Umbrian valley.

The day will conclude with time among the vineyards of the region, celebrated for their Sagrantino wine, offering a moment to reflect on the landscape, culture, and agricultural traditions of Umbria.

Day 8 – Departure

Participants will depart Spoleto, with group transfers arranged as needed.