Highlights
- Carrara marble quarries
- Apuan Alps views
- Malaspina Castle
Stage conditions
| Section | Tuscany (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Abundant |
| Shade | Partial |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Sarzana and Massa are both on the Genoa–Pisa coast line, so this is one of the easiest stages to join or leave by train. Sarzana has hourly regionals to La Spezia and some long-distance stops. Massa Centro, on Piazza IV Novembre just south of the centre, is served by regional trains plus a handful of InterCity services and by urban and suburban buses. From Pisa airport the Pisa Mover reaches Pisa Centrale in five minutes and the coast line runs straight up through Massa to Sarzana, which makes Pisa the obvious hub for the whole Versilian section.
What the season does
Best months in the stage data run March to June and September to November, with partial shade. The regional page calls this a mostly flat leg on paved roads across fields and the coastal plain, which means little cover: in July and August the tarmac between Luni and Avenza radiates heat and there is no shade to speak of, so start at first light. Spring and autumn are ideal, with the Apuan marble faces sharp above you. Massa is a seaside town, and its beds are busiest in the August holiday weeks — book, or aim for the pilgrim hostel.
Safety on this stage
This is a road day. The stage notes warn of road walking through Carrara, and the regional page describes the leg as running mainly along paved roads — the risk is traffic on the busy urban stretches around Avenza and the approach to Massa rather than terrain. Walk on the pavement where one exists, cross at lights, and be visible in poor light. Otherwise the stage is flat and the surfaces are firm in all weathers.
Water and food
Water is abundant. The regional page names three refreshment points on the way — Caniparola, Mani di Ferro and Avenza — where you can refill, and the Roman site at Luni has facilities nearby. Avenza, with its Castruccio tower, is the natural lunch stop. Massa's Piazza Duomo has bars and fountains at the finish. Carry a litre for the exposed plain in summer.
Where pilgrims sleep
The stage data has no directory entries for this stage. In Massa the pilgrim hostel is the Ostello Palazzo Nizza, an eighteenth-century palace on Piazza Mercurio in the historic centre restored for walkers, with reception 9 am–1 pm and 3.30–7 pm. Just before Massa the region lists the Ospitale Antonio Mazzi in Avenza as donation-based pilgrim accommodation, a useful alternative if you want to shorten the day. Hotels and B&Bs are plentiful because Massa doubles as a seaside town.
Sources: Visit Tuscany — Leg 25 Sarzana to Massa via Avenza · Visit Tuscany — pilgrim hospitality, leg 25 · Ostello Palazzo Nizza, Massa — official site · Wikipedia (it) — Stazione di Sarzana · Wikipedia — Massa Centro railway station · Wikipedia — Pisa International Airport · Visit Tuscany — Useful suggestions before you leave
Common questions
How long is the Sarzana to Massa stage?
It is 22.0 km (13.7 mi) and takes about 5.5 hours of walking, from Sarzana to Massa.
How hard is Sarzana to Massa?
It is rated easy with 250 m of ascent and 200 m of descent over coastal terrain.
Is there water on the Sarzana to Massa stage?
Water is abundant along this stage.
How do I get to Sarzana and away from Massa?
Sarzana and Massa are both on the Genoa–Pisa coast line, so this is one of the easiest stages to join or leave by train. Sarzana has hourly regionals to La Spezia and some long-distance stops. Massa Centro, on Piazza IV Novembre just south of the centre, is served by regional trains plus a handful of InterCity services and by urban and suburban buses.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Massa?
The stage data has no directory entries for this stage. In Massa the pilgrim hostel is the Ostello Palazzo Nizza, an eighteenth-century palace on Piazza Mercurio in the historic centre restored for walkers, with reception 9 am–1 pm and 3.30–7 pm. Just before Massa the region lists the Ospitale Antonio Mazzi in Avenza as donation-based pilgrim accommodation, a useful alternative if you want to shorten the day.
Walk this stage
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