St. Anthony’s Way

St. Anthony’s Way passes through Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany following a route that connects important centres of spiritual significance and religious importance and less known places where St. Anthony lived and practiced his faith at the beginning of the 12th century.

Marked by a strong religious and spiritual meaning the trail offers a unique opportunity to pass through lands rich in unspoilt nature with a slow perspective on landscapes dotted with hermitages, ancient villages, castles and cities of art that are typical of a large part of Emilia-Romagna.

Starting from the Basilica of St. Anthony at Padua, the route winds southward for more than 400 km, entering Emilia-Romagna at the picturesque ford over the River Po, passing through Ferrara and continuing to the Sanctuary of St. Luke in Bologna, an important place of religious significance and pilgrimage, and then toward Romagna.

Gentle Apennine ridges, ancient parish churches, sanctuaries and villages typify the route which leads to the impressive natural environment of the Casentinesi Forests National Park, which is also a Unesco MAB reserve. The route includes Dozza, the town painted with murals and home of the Regional Wine Promotion Organisation, Brisighella, an ancient medieval town with its characteristic Portico, the Hermitage of Montepaolo, an evocative place of peace and spirituality and an important sanctuary of St. Anthony in Emilia Romagna and first residence in Italy - 1221 and 1222 – of the saint who lived here after meeting Saint Francis in Assisi.

Intersections
The route joins Dante’s Way, the Way of the Gods, the Romea Germanica Way, Assisi Way, St. Francis’ Way from Rimini to La Verna.
St. Anthony’s Way is listed in the Altas of Paths of the Mibact.