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Between Umbria and Marche and Tuscany, touching the most significant
places in the life of St. Francis, places of peace and nature, where the
Saint took refuge from the vanity of the world, ordinary people and
closer to his message, in a sweet and lush nature.
The province of Marche, in 1208, was the first land visited and
evangelized by St. Francis, which he dedicated the 42nd chapter and most
of its famous "Little Flowers of St. Francis", and in 1226 fascinated by
the great spirituality of the place, composed the Canticle of the Sun,
known as the "Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon". The poem is a
praise to God, to life and nature that is seen in all its beauty and
complexity.
The itinerary Franciscan Pesaro and Urbino, retraces the historic homes
of large families: the Montefeltro, Malatesta and Della Rovere. There is
a path in the Marche, where St. Francis left significant traces of his
passage. This is the famous route of "Sora water" (which is useful,
humble, precious and pure); On 8 May 1213, St. Francis received the gift
of the Monte della Verna from Count Orlando of Chiusi; It can therefore
be assumed, that started from the convent of Montecasale to go to San
Leo. We do not know whether this trip was the outward or the return
path, the fact is, that, according to witnesses, the countries were
outnumbered roughly the following: Convent Montecasale, Pass Cows,
Figgiano Borgo Pace Mercatello Metauro, Sant'Angelo in Vado, Lunano,
Montefiorentino Carpegna Montecopiolo and finally San Leo. They tell
many miracles and unusual jets of water during its journey, recent
evidence, come to this day, tell us that in some basins, the inhabitants
of the area, leaving chairs and glasses for travelers in need of
refreshment. A Figgiano, for example, between Borgo Pace and Parchiule
under the Oratory of Colubraia, the Saint would have brought forth a
spring still called Fonte di San Francesco, which would own therapeutic
effects. Stories of the past tell us that this source of spring water,
until a few decades ago, they carried babies or people with skin
problems to wet them with water of San Francesco. L 'water still flows
out from a large pool of "sponge stone" that certainly holds much
calcium making the water more light and gentle to the skin. According to
these stories, the way of St. Francis Assisi to La Verna, may well have
an extension towards the Marche Apennines.
Below we offer as you can get to visit "the stone sponge Source of St.
Francis" to Figgiano of Borgopace, where certain months of the year the
water flows therapeutic, and discover unknown paths traveled by Saint
Francis of Assisi.
San Francisco after being transited to Figgiano, to go to San Leo, went
to Mercatello Metauro where he could count on Don Bartholomew, religious
that housed the brothers in transit there. It is no coincidence that the
monumental church of San Francesco in Mercatello, is one of the first
foundations of the Franciscan Order; a document that talks about this
structure was already active in 1235, ie just nine years after the death
of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Proposal for a new exciting journey as a pilgrim on the Apennines
between the Marche-Umbria-Tuscany and Romagna
Montecasale Hermitage (AR) - Source of San Francesco in Figgiano (PU)
From the Hermitage Montecasale (Sansepolcro AR Tuscany region) is
undertaken the CAI 6A through the Three Terms descend towards Parchiule
taking the path CAI 85, up to the Poggio forks where you turn into the
path CAI 89 (direction Parchiule) from there you arrive in Ranco Fabbro,
and you reach the dirt road leading to Parchiule. Go past the village of
Parchiule and continue along the local road towards Borgo Pace, after
500m on the left take the path 90, still is exceeded Palazzo Mucci and
takes the path 88 that leads to the Source of San Francisco and then to
Figgiano , small and charming medieval village. (located in the
territory of Borgo Pace in the province of Pesaro-Urbino - Marche
region)
Source of San Francesco in Figgiano (PU) - Monastery "La Verna"
(AR)
From Figgiano, you embark on the path 88 past the Fonte di San Francesco
and continue until Palazzo Mucci, where you take the path 90 to reach
the municipal road. On the road continue towards Parchiule surpassing
the village, and go to the cemetery in the village of Villa, here, you
take the path 90bis; follow it to the Outlet of Bucine; thence continue
along the famous "Italian path" to the pass of Via Maggio, then descend
towards Pieve Santo Stefano and reach the Sanctuary of La Verna.
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