Highlights
- Camaiore village
- Olive groves
- Lucca Renaissance walls
- Gateway to Tuscany
Stage conditions
| Section | Tuscany (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Full |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Leave Pietrasanta from its central station on the Genoa–Pisa line. Camaiore, the halfway town, has no station of its own — Autolinee Toscane buses from Pietrasanta serve the hill villages if you need to shorten the day. Lucca's station on Piazza Ricasoli is a hub: regionals on the Viareggio–Florence line, the Pisa–Lucca line and the Lucca–Aulla line, with a pedestrian and cycle underpass opened in 2025 that takes you straight from the platforms to the city walls. Pisa airport is 25 minutes away by train via Pisa Centrale and the Pisa Mover.
What the season does
The stage data give March to June and September to November and rate shade as full — the regional page describes dense forest above Camaiore and around Montemagno, which keeps this long day bearable even in warm weather. Mud is the seasonal issue: the woodland tracks hold water after spring and autumn rain. Time your arrival with care: Lucca Comics & Games takes over the city at the end of October and into early November, with hundreds of thousands of tickets sold and tents filling the squares inside the walls, and beds vanish for that week.
Safety on this stage
This is the longest Tuscan stage so far and the stage data's warning is simply to pace yourself: the climb out of Camaiore and the descent through Valpromaro add up, and the last hour across the plain to the Serchio bridge and Porta San Donato feels long. The woodland paths are rooty and slippery when wet. On the approach to Lucca you are on roads shared with traffic — stay on pavements and cross the Serchio on the bridge, not the verge.
Water and food
Water is abundant. Camaiore has everything, and Montemagno, Valpromaro and Piazzano all have a fountain or bar; Valpromaro also has a pilgrim house if you need to stop. The regional page notes the Serchio river as the marker for the final run into Lucca but lists no fountains on that stretch, so refill in Piazzano. Inside the walls Lucca has fountains and cafés on every square.
Where pilgrims sleep
Lucca has the densest pilgrim network of the Versilian section. Our directory's Lucca entries are the Ostello San Frediano (pilgrim hostel), the San Frediano Donativo (donation-based) and the Hotel Ilaria (hotel), all inside the walls. The region's own list for this leg names three donation-based pilgrim welcomes inside the city — the Foresteria del Pellegrino di Lucca, the Pellegrinaio San Divino and the Ostello San Nicolao — plus the Casa del Pellegrino at Valpromaro on the way. All will want a credenziale, and in spring and autumn a call a day ahead is wise.
Sources: Visit Tuscany — Leg 27 Camaiore to Lucca · Visit Tuscany — pilgrim hospitality, leg 27 · Wikipedia (it) — Stazione di Pietrasanta · Wikipedia — Lucca railway station · Wikipedia — Lucca Comics & Games · Wikipedia — Pisa International Airport · Visit Tuscany — Useful suggestions before you leave
Common questions
How long is the Pietrasanta to Lucca stage?
It is 28.0 km (17.4 mi) and takes about 7 hours of walking, from Pietrasanta to Lucca.
How hard is Pietrasanta to Lucca?
It is rated easy with 350 m of ascent and 380 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Pietrasanta to Lucca stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Pietrasanta and away from Lucca?
Leave Pietrasanta from its central station on the Genoa–Pisa line. Camaiore, the halfway town, has no station of its own — Autolinee Toscane buses from Pietrasanta serve the hill villages if you need to shorten the day. Lucca's station on Piazza Ricasoli is a hub: regionals on the Viareggio–Florence line, the Pisa–Lucca line and the Lucca–Aulla line, with a pedestrian and cycle underpass opened in 2025 that takes you straight from the platforms to the city walls.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Lucca?
Lucca has the densest pilgrim network of the Versilian section. Our directory's Lucca entries are the Ostello San Frediano (pilgrim hostel), the San Frediano Donativo (donation-based) and the Hotel Ilaria (hotel), all inside the walls. The region's own list for this leg names three donation-based pilgrim welcomes inside the city — the Foresteria del Pellegrino di Lucca, the Pellegrinaio San Divino and the Ostello San Nicolao — plus the Casa del Pellegrino at Valpromaro on the way.
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.