The Way of St Francis of Assisi
My plan for celebrating my 50th Birthday had been, since 2019 when walking 10 days on La Via Francigena, in Tuscany) to return to Italy and walk a pilgrimage to Rome.
When I was advised that Rome this year might be rather hectic – being the Pope’s Jubilee Year and then the subsequent death of the Pope and process of announcing the new Pope – I modified my plans to avoid the hectic routes to Rome and opted instead for a quieter path. The Cammino di San Francesco – Way of St Francis of Assisi.
On 27th August, after 16 days and over 300km of walking, my partner and I arrived at the gates of Assisi — the breathtaking hilltop medieval town and birthplace of St Francis, Patron Saint of Animals and Italy.
Many know of St Francis of Assisi, but fewer realise he was not only a saint, but also a radical voice for simplicity, humility, and equality among all beings — humans, animals, plants, and the whole natural world. He chose to spend his days walking, praying, and meditating in nature, seeing God reflected everywhere, rather than preaching from the pulpit.
Along the way from Florence to Assisi, every village held a story of Francis’ presence — a monastery, a chapel, or a community memory of how his life shaped their land. Following in his footsteps, the cammino became more than a physical journey; it was an immersion into simplicity, nature, and devotion.
I was often heard saying ‘Thank you Brother Wind’ (a line from St. Frances’s ‘Canticle of the Creatures’ – see below) in gratitude for the cool breeze that came at the perfect moment – when overheating in the Italian summer sun was a daily risk.
Our lodgings reflected this spirit of pilgrimage too — ranging from ‘by donation’ stays in simple but homely hermitages, to stunning monasteries, humble AirBnBs created especially for pilgrims, and incredible farmstays offering nourishing farm-to-table meals and the warmth of rural hospitality.
Each place carried its own unique imprint of simplicity and generosity, reminding us that the journey is held as much by the people and places along the way as by the path itself.
This pilgrimage has deeply shaped my own path forward — reminding me to simplify my life and weave Francis’ devotion to connection into my daily rhythm. It has opened space in me for new love, deeper self-care, compassion, and the continued joy of sharing yoga as a way to live with presence and wholeness.
May this story be a reminder that each of us can walk our own ‘cammino’ — finding moments of stillness, connection, and simplicity in the midst of everyday life.
For me, Yoga and hiking offer paths of different kinds… but with the same offering – a way of living in, through and all around with love.
What is your path?