Sanford “Sandy” Brown (born 1957) is an American travel writer and internationally recognized pilgrimage guidebook author based in Seattle, Washington, and Lucca, Italy, specializing in historic pilgrimage routes including the Via Francigena, Camino de Santiago, and the Way of St. Francis. Widely regarded as a leading international authority on the Via Francigena and one of the most trusted voices in contemporary pilgrimage travel, he has walked or cycled more than 19,000 kilometers on long-distance routes across Europe and the United States since planning his first Camino journey in 2008.
Brown is the author of multiple acclaimed guidebooks published by Cicerone Press and is the founder of Pilgrim Paths, a travel company offering guided and self-guided walking journeys on Europe’s great pilgrimage routes. Through his writing, teaching, and leadership of international walking programs, he has helped thousands of travelers prepare for and undertake transformative long-distance pilgrimages.
A frequent featured speaker at major pilgrimage and walking conferences, Brown has presented for organizations including the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome, the Canadian Company of Pilgrims, American Pilgrims on the Camino, and the Confraternity of St. James, where he delivered the 2021 Candace Stoors Lecture. In 2023, he received the Honor Award of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (AEVF) in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the route.
Before turning his professional focus fully to writing and travel, Brown held leadership roles in Seattle’s nonprofit and faith communities. He earned a degree in medieval history from the University of Washington, a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (which named him a Distinguished Alumnus), and a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Since 2018, Brown has lived with Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS), a progressive motor neurone disease that has affected his speech. He continues to write, research, and lead select walking programs, and maintains a limited speaking schedule using an AI-assisted voice.
He divides his time between Lucca, Italy, and Seattle, Washington, with his wife, Theresa Elliott.
Sandy Brown is the founder of Pilgrim Paths, an international walking tour company specializing in Europe’s historic pilgrimage routes.
With is sister and son, Sandy owns Pilgrim Paths, a boutique travel business that specializes in custom, self-guided and group pilgrimage trekking adventures. When he’s not walking he enjoys yoga, sailing and piano. He spends time with his wife, Theresa Elliot, at their homes in Seattle, Washington, and Lucca, Italy.
Sandy Brown is one of the world’s most prolific and trusted pilgrimage guidebook authors. A long-distance walker and ordained minister from Seattle, Washington, in 2020, Sanford “Sandy” Brown joined Cicerone Press as Associate Publisher for Caminos and Pilgrimages.
