National Urban Trekking Day in Pavia

The 2026 Urban Trekking in Pavia offers an opportunity to discover an important part of the city’s religious, artistic and cultural history: the centuries-old presence of the Franciscan orders and the heritage they have left behind.

On Saturday, October 31, 2026, the “In the Footsteps of Saint Francis” walking tour will take participants on a journey through Pavia’s historic centre and beyond, following a route of approximately 5 kilometres, lasting around 3 hours and 30 minutes, with a low level of difficulty.

A journey through history, art and spirituality

The tour starts at 9:00 am from Piazza del Municipio 2, in the heart of Pavia, and leads visitors to several places connected with the Franciscan presence in the city.

The route begins with the remains of Santa Chiara delle Clarisse and continues to Santa Maria Canepanova, an important example of Pavia’s religious architecture. The itinerary then reaches San Francesco Maggiore and the Church of the Carmine, passing through places that help reconstruct, through buildings, works of art and historical memories, the development of Franciscan spirituality in Pavia.

The walk then continues beyond the historic centre, reaching the Pio Albergo Pertusati and the Church of San Giacomo della Vernavola, a place also associated with the memory of Saint Bernardino of Feltre.

The result is a unique itinerary combining Pavia’s monumental heritage with the history of the religious communities that have helped shape the identity of the city over the centuries.

Pavia in the footsteps of the Franciscan tradition

“In the Footsteps of Saint Francis” offers an opportunity to discover Pavia from a different perspective, following a historical thread that connects churches, convents, works of art and places of memory.

The urban trek reveals lesser-known stories and aspects of Pavia’s history, taking participants on a journey through Franciscan spirituality, architecture, art and urban history.

The event is part of Urban Trekking 2026, a national initiative dedicated to discovering cities on foot through routes that highlight cultural heritage and offer the chance to explore lesser-known corners of historic centres.

For visitors to Pavia, it is therefore an original way to discover the city and its religious heritage while walking among monuments and places that tell centuries of history.