Highlights
- Lucca Renaissance walls
- Knights of the Tau history
- Altopascio pilgrim hospital
Stage conditions
| Section | Tuscany (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Scarce |
| Shade | Partial |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Lucca station, just outside the walls on Piazza Ricasoli, has regional trains on the Viareggio–Florence, Pisa–Lucca and Lucca–Aulla lines and a new underpass to the walls. Altopascio station is on the same Florence–Lucca line: every regional stops there, and it has a bar, ticket office and bus interchange, so you can hop back to Lucca or on to Florence in minutes. Pisa airport via Pisa Centrale is the nearest hub, about half an hour from Lucca by train.
What the season does
The stage data give March to June and September to November, with partial shade and a plain warning: flat and exposed, little shade in summer. The regional page confirms it — almost entirely paved, with a maximum altitude of a few metres — so in July and August this becomes a hot road walk with nowhere to hide. Go early. In autumn the plain is pleasant and Altopascio's bell still rings at dusk. The Lucca Comics & Games festival at the turn of October and November fills every bed in Lucca, which matters if you are starting from there.
Safety on this stage
Traffic, not terrain. The regional page asks for caution on the road stretch at Corte Ginori and at the many crossings of provincial roads along the stage, and with 96 per cent of the leg on tarmac you will share it with cars for most of the day. Walk facing oncoming traffic where there is no pavement, cross at right angles, and wear something bright. The route is flat and easy underfoot in any weather.
Water and food
Water is scarce between the towns: the regional page is blunt that outside them there is nowhere to replenish your supply. Fill every bottle in Lucca, refill at the villages you pass (Capannori's hamlets and Porcari have bars), and do not assume a fountain between them. Altopascio has cafés and the medieval hospital's well-known bread. Carry at least a litre, more in summer.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory's Lucca entries — Ostello San Frediano (pilgrim hostel), San Frediano Donativo (donation-based) and Hotel Ilaria (hotel) — are where you start, not where you finish. In Altopascio the commune lists two pilgrim guesthouses run by the association Sentieri di Felicità: the Foresteria La Pistacchia on Piazza Ricasoli in the old hospice quarter, and the Foresteria Hospitale San Pietro at Badia Pozzeveri on the edge of town. The municipal library on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele stamps credenziali. Book by phone rather than turning up late.
Sources: Visit Tuscany — Leg 28 Lucca to Altopascio · Visit Tuscany — pilgrim hospitality, leg 27 · Comune di Altopascio — Via Francigena e centro storico · Wikipedia — Lucca railway station · Wikipedia (it) — Stazione di Altopascio · Wikipedia — Lucca Comics & Games · Wikipedia — Pisa International Airport · Visit Tuscany — Useful suggestions before you leave
Common questions
How long is the Lucca to Altopascio stage?
It is 18.0 km (11.2 mi) and takes about 4.5 hours of walking, from Lucca to Altopascio.
How hard is Lucca to Altopascio?
It is rated easy with 50 m of ascent and 30 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Lucca to Altopascio stage?
Water is scarce on this stage. Carry what you need before you set out.
How do I get to Lucca and away from Altopascio?
Lucca station, just outside the walls on Piazza Ricasoli, has regional trains on the Viareggio–Florence, Pisa–Lucca and Lucca–Aulla lines and a new underpass to the walls. Altopascio station is on the same Florence–Lucca line: every regional stops there, and it has a bar, ticket office and bus interchange, so you can hop back to Lucca or on to Florence in minutes. Pisa airport via Pisa Centrale is the nearest hub, about half an hour from Lucca by train.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Altopascio?
Our directory's Lucca entries — Ostello San Frediano (pilgrim hostel), San Frediano Donativo (donation-based) and Hotel Ilaria (hotel) — are where you start, not where you finish. In Altopascio the commune lists two pilgrim guesthouses run by the association Sentieri di Felicità: the Foresteria La Pistacchia on Piazza Ricasoli in the old hospice quarter, and the Foresteria Hospitale San Pietro at Badia Pozzeveri on the edge of town. The municipal library on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele stamps credenziali.
Walk this stage
Open the full stage list to plan the legs either side, browse heritage along the route, or get the free Via Francigena Walk app for offline maps and GPS on the trail.