Highlights
- Magra River valley
- Lunigiana castles
- Brunella Fortress
Stage conditions
| Section | Tuscany (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Full |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Pontremoli station sits on the Parma–La Spezia line, with Trenitalia regional trains, a taxi rank and a TEP bus stop outside; every passenger train on the line stops there. At the far end, Aulla Lunigiana station is the junction where the same Pontremolese line meets the Aulla–Lucca branch: regionals run roughly hourly to La Spezia, Pontremoli and Parma, with connections towards Lucca and Pisa. The station is set apart from the built-up area, so allow time to walk out to it. The nearest airport hub is Pisa, linked to Pisa Centrale by the five-minute Pisa Mover shuttle; from Pisa you reach the Pontremolese via La Spezia or Sarzana.
What the season does
The stage data give April to June and September to October as the best months, and the day is well shaded all the way down the Magra valley — the Lunigiana is green precisely because it is wet. That is the catch: the route crosses the Bagnone and Monia streams and the stage data flags that river crossings turn slippery after rain, so a spring or autumn downpour changes the day more than heat does. In high summer the shade still works in your favour; in winter expect rain rather than snow, and remember the abbey hostel in Aulla runs at reduced capacity from November to March.
Safety on this stage
Two things to watch. About half the day is on tarmac, and the regional page asks you to watch for traffic on the paved stretches near the end as you approach Aulla — walk facing oncoming cars and keep off the verge-less bends. The other is water underfoot: the stream crossings the stage notes warn about are slick after rain, so take them slowly and unclip your pack straps. The mule tracks between Filattiera, Filetto and Virgoletta are otherwise gentle.
Water and food
Water is abundant on this stage. You pass through a string of villages — Ponticello, Filattiera, Filetto, Villafranca and Virgoletta — where fountains and bars are never far apart, and the route follows and crosses the Bagnone and Monia streams. Carry the litre the regional advice recommends, top up in Filattiera or Villafranca, and you will not go short. Aulla has shops and cafés around the abbey and the town centre.
Where pilgrims sleep
There are no directory entries in the stage data for this stage yet. The pilgrim stop in Aulla is the Ospitale Abbazia di San Caprasio, a parish-run hostel on Piazza Abbazia right on the route, staffed by volunteers since 2005: four rooms and twenty-seven beds in season, only eight from November to March, opening 3–7 pm, kitchen and bike storage, everything on a donation basis with no meals served. A credenziale is preferred rather than mandatory. The rooms are up a flight of stairs with no lift. The region lists it as the leg's pilgrim hospitality alongside the Ospitale San Lorenzo Martire back in Pontremoli.
Sources: Visit Tuscany — Leg 23 Pontremoli to Aulla · Visit Tuscany — pilgrim hospitality, leg 23 · Visit Tuscany — Ospitale Abbazia di San Caprasio, Aulla · Wikipedia — Pontremoli railway station · Wikipedia (it) — Stazione di Aulla Lunigiana · Wikipedia — Pisa International Airport · Visit Tuscany — Useful suggestions before you leave
Common questions
How long is the Pontremoli to Aulla stage?
It is 22.0 km (13.7 mi) and takes about 6 hours of walking, from Pontremoli to Aulla.
How hard is Pontremoli to Aulla?
It is rated moderate with 300 m of ascent and 400 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Pontremoli to Aulla stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Pontremoli and away from Aulla?
Pontremoli station sits on the Parma–La Spezia line, with Trenitalia regional trains, a taxi rank and a TEP bus stop outside; every passenger train on the line stops there. At the far end, Aulla Lunigiana station is the junction where the same Pontremolese line meets the Aulla–Lucca branch: regionals run roughly hourly to La Spezia, Pontremoli and Parma, with connections towards Lucca and Pisa. The station is set apart from the built-up area, so allow time to walk out to it.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Aulla?
There are no directory entries in the stage data for this stage yet. The pilgrim stop in Aulla is the Ospitale Abbazia di San Caprasio, a parish-run hostel on Piazza Abbazia right on the route, staffed by volunteers since 2005: four rooms and twenty-seven beds in season, only eight from November to March, opening 3–7 pm, kitchen and bike storage, everything on a donation basis with no meals served. A credenziale is preferred rather than mandatory.
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.