Atlas of Tuscan Walks: towards the Jubilee 2025
A year of initiatives not to be missed!
The Jubilee is an invitation to set out on an experience of faith and renewal, nature and spirituality. Tuscany is crisscrossed by a network of ancient pilgrimage routes that have linked northern Europe with the Eternal City for centuries or else led to other important destinations of worship.
The route of the Via Francigena, for example, is described in the diary that Archbishop Sigeric penned on his return from Rome to Canterbury after receiving the Pallium bestowed from the Pope in the year 990. The Via Romea Germanica follows the route taken by pilgrims from the Scandinavian peninsula and Central and Eastern Europe headed to Rome, while the Romea Strata retraces the steps of thousands of faithful coming from Eastern Europe to reach the Via Francigena. Finally, in the Middle Ages, the Via Romea Sanese was the main link between Florence and Siena, a historic stop on the journey to Rome.
In Tuscany, you can follow in the footsteps of illustrious figures such as Saint Francis of Assisi by travelling the Via di Francesco comprised of a set of paths connecting the many places linked to the life of the Saint. From Florence, particularly the Franciscan Basilica of Santa Croce, today’s travelers can reach the renowned Shrine of La Verna where Saint Francis received the stigmata.
Following the Cammino di San Jacopo, connecting Florence to Livorno, you can stop in the city of Pistoia where the relics of the Apostle James (San Jacopo) are safeguarded. The Via Lauretana connects Siena—and thus the Via Francigena—to Cortona then on to Umbria before reaching the Holy House of Loreto in Le Marche.
Likewise, an object of veneration for centuries is the statue of the Volto Santo (Holy Face of Lucca), found in the Cathedral of San Martino in Lucca, said to depict the true likeness of Christ. Today, as in the past, two historic paths lead to this coveted destination: the Via del Volto Santo and the Via Matildica del Volto Santo.
In 2025, Tuscany celebrates the Holy Year with special initiatives to experience the Jubilee also as an occasion for coming together and being part of something truly significant.
In addition, re-enactments, flower displays, living nativity scenes and other events bountifully rooted in the social fabric enliven the villages and cities of art to transform your journey into traditions and folklore.
