We are heading toward 2028, the year in which we will celebrate the 500th anniversary of our Order. It will be a special opportunity to give thanks and return to the roots of our charism. For this very reason, in the Marche—the region where the Order was founded in 1528—the Path of the Capuchins (Cammino dei Cappuccini) has been established, a pilgrimage that retraces the places of our origins.
The itinerary stretches for nearly 400 kilometers, crossing much of the Marche region, and is divided into seventeen stages. The route connects some of the most significant sites in the history of the Order: it begins at the monastery in Fossombrone (the birthplace of the first key figures of the reform, Friar Ludovico and Friar Raffaele) and culminates at the Shrine of St. Seraphin of Montegranaro in Ascoli Piceno.
Along the way, pilgrims are welcomed into friaries, monasteries, and other facilities, enjoying an experience that combines nature, culture, and prayer, immersed in a spirit of fellowship and participating in the daily life of the friars.
New materials to accompany the stages of your journey
The pilgrimage is also supported by a carefully curated selection of print and digital materials. To explore the pilgrimage’s themes in a meditative way, a series of spiritual podcasts has been created specifically for listening while walking, along with the historical novel The Spirit of the Capuchins. The real-life experiences recounted in the episodes are then brought to life visually through the evocative artistic stamps to be affixed to the pilgrim’s credentials.
The Path of the Capuchins has already been traveled by thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. To mark the 500th anniversary of our history, it can serve as a pilgrimage for our fraternities and for all those who share the Capuchin charism with us. It would be wonderful if friars from all over the world could come to the Marche region and travel this itinerary, returning to the roots of our history, praying in the places where it all began, and allowing themselves to be inspired anew by the spirit of the first Capuchins.
The Heart of the Itinerary: Renacavata and the FAI Initiative
At the heart of this entire experience is Renacavata, near Camerino. This is where the first monastery of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin was founded, the place where the first friars were finally able to live according to their calling.
To raise awareness of this historic site not only among those who share our charism but also among the general public, the Renacavata friary has been officially nominated for the national “I Luoghi del Cuore” census, sponsored by the FAI (Italian National Trust). This initiative uses a public vote to identify the places that Italians most wish to protect and promote.
We are all called to become active promoters of this campaign within our provinces, fraternities, and apostolic ministries, so that this friary may become a “FAI 2026 Place of the Heart.”
How can you vote and support the initiative?
Voting is completely free and open to everyone (adults and minors), even those outside of Italy. You can vote at the following address: https://fondoambiente.it/luoghi/convento-dei-frati-cappuccini-renacavata-camerino?ldc
