Via Francigena - week 5

Via Francigena – week 5

€780 (from) / Per person

Via Francigena – Week 5

This week starts in the mountains & descends to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. After the beaches & sparkling waters of the coast, traverse across the lush meadows & waterfalls of Tuscany. Along the way you will pass through Sarzana, with its remarkable medieval fortress; the charming town of Massa, with its 15th century castle & Renaissance palace; the coastal town of Camaiore, with its 8th century abbey; & the famous Tuscan town of Lucca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with brilliant marble churches on every corner. You will finish your journey in San Miniato, in the province of Pisa. A romantic medieval center encircled in vineyards & olive groves, San Miniato is most well-known for its incredible basilica.

Aulla can easily be reached by train from La Spezia-Cinqueterre (25min) or Milan (3h50m).

Waiting for you at your hotel will be all the material you need for your trip: hotel vouchers, a detailed description of the route & stops along the way, & the maps. You will also find information on churches where you can receive a benediction, should you desire one, and have a pilgrim stamp on your credential.

7 Days
Age 15+
Via Francigena

Highlights

Sarzanello fortress
The sea view from the Carrara hills
Lucca with its perfectly oval walls
“Il volto santo” inside Lucca cathedral

How does it work

We book your accommodations

We will book double/single rooms with private bathrooms in 2* or 3* hotels, b&b or country Inns. and you will find the corresponding vouchers in your package

We transfer your luggage

Just leave it at the reception desk with your name tag and you will find it at your next accommodation.

We supply detailed route notes and maps

The route notes can be in English, Italian, or French. All maps have GPS tracing.

Departure:	Aulla
Destination:	San Miniato
Included:	7 nights (in 2/3 stars accommodation) All breakfast (dinners on demand) Emergency number 24/7 Gps files available Luggage transfer Pilgrim’s “Credenziale” Road book & maps
Excluded:	Dinners Tips Wine tasting

Map

Via Francigena week 5 from Aulla to San Miniato

Tour Plan

Altitude at departure point: 100 mt

Day 1: Arrival in Aulla

Aulla has been completely destroyed by bombing during World War II so most of the town is modern- However do not miss San Caprasio abbey; it is very interesting to see the reconstruction work and the little museum. The priest knows a lot about the Francigena and you can meet other pilgrims.

Distance 22 km (walking time 5 h)

Day 2: Aulla - Sarzana

Leaving Aulla which lays in the shade of the imposing Brunella fortress we walk through the last slopes of the Appennino mountain and will catch the first sight of the sea. The Bibola ruined castle is our first stop, then the ruins of the Brina castle before starting the descent towards Sarzana.

Type of route: almost entirely unpaved

Distance 18 km (walking time 4.30 h)

Day 3: Sarzana - Avenza

First you meet the Sarzanello fortress. You will then walk from fortress to castle, to watch tower with the Apuane Alps in as a backdrop. It is the country of the famous Carrara marble and the mountains are white from its deposits.

Type of route: dirt roads or secondary asphalt

Distance 24 km (walking time 5.30 h)

Day 4: Avenza - Camaiore

A pleasant walk with beautiful views of the coast. Again, we remain high on the hills to avoid an overcrowded plain. The route is therefore full of ups and downs. The villages of this area, contrary to the one on the coast are still very well preserved with cobbled streets and small cafes. We will take a train between Massa and Pietrasanta to avoid a boring and long stretch.

Type of route: dirt roads or secondary asphalt

Distance 30 km (walking time 7.30 h)

Day 5: Camaiore - Lucca

The main attraction of the day is certainly the arrival point, Lucca which you reach via the Park of the Serchio river. Take a walk on the oval shaped town walls, visit the Duomo not forgetting “il Volto Santo” an impressive, woodden sculpture created by Niccodemus, that arrived in Lucca by miracle on a boat without sailors, as the legend goes.

Type of route: dirt roads or secondary asphalt

Distance 20 km (walking time 4.30 h)

Day 6: Lucca - Altopascio

A very pleasant town with a very old hospital. The area used to be very unhealthy because marshy and infested by bandits. Now it is a very densely populated area, not really nice to walk. Suggestion: spend most of the day in Lucca and catch a train! (Only 15 minutes).

Type of route: almost entirely asphalt

Distance 30 km (walking time 7.30 h)

Day 7: Altopascio - S. Miniato

There is a short stretch of medieval original pavement. To see along the way: Ponte a Cappiano (bridge built by Cosimo de’ Medici, XVI sec.) – San Miniato Alto. To make it shorter and avoid a not so nice stretch, you can catch a bus.

Type of route: dirt roads or secondary asphalt and a strech of original paved route.

Day 8: End our service

See you next year to walk together the next stage