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Walking the Via Francigena - Lucca to Siena

The classic pilgrimage from Lucca to Siena. You stay in 2- and 4-star hotels, we handle the luggage transfer and detailsed route descriptions. All you need to focus on is the lovely walk in the countryside in Tuscany.

8 Days / 7 Nights
Challenging

This walking holiday is perfect as an introduction to the region,and for people who love museums, galleries and Gothic and Romanesque architecture, there is more than enough to see and do. You have plenty of time to visit attractions on most of the days.

You will also have time to visit all the beautiful medieval villages and historic towns along the Via Francigena: starting from beautiful Lucca, you’ll pass through Fucecchio, San Miniato, Gambassi Terme, the stunning San Gimignano with its medieval skyscrapers and Monteriggioni, admired by Dante in his Divine Comedy. You’ll spend the nights in beautiful places, among which a night in one of the best agriturismo’s in Tuscany, and the final night in the heart of Siena, in a characteristic hotel.

However the emphasis of the tour is to enjoy the countryside, the rolling vineyards, the poppies in Spring and the wild cyclamen in autumn. Most of all, many of the views have barely changed for hundreds of years. The area north of Siena is an amazing landscape of rolling hills, alternating vineyards and forests, while cypresses line the way leading to the distant farmhouses. Walking here is an unforgettable experience!

 

Highlights on this tour

  • Start walking from stunning Lucca - and end the tour in amazing Siena. With time to explore these beautiful cities.
  • Discover the small jewels along the road: San Miniato, la Grancia, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni & Siena
  • Stay at one of Tuscany's most beautiful agriturismo's fully immerged in the quintessential Tuscan countryside
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More about the route

This is a moderately easy tour which is suitable for those who have some experience with walking and a good general physical condition. Through the extensive footpath network of the area, roughly following the traces of the Via Francigena, one of Europe’s most important ‘high ways’ in medieval times, you walk from village to village, a full immersion in the world-famed Tuscan landscape.

Itinerary

Here you can see the program for the tour.

Arrival in Lucca, where you settle in at your hotel in the beautiful old town, known for its perfectly preserved city walls and the famous ‘Amphitheatre’ square. Depending on your arrival time, you can go for a short visit to the town centre.

Hotel (example): Hotel Rex***

The first day walk takes you from the historical town of Lucca to the nice medieval town of Altopascio. This first stretch is not spectacular, but a good warm-up hike, through a pretty flat landscape. The route brings you through the plain, densely populated, but with a large number of interesting historical and religious buildings, such as the ‘Pieve’ (rural chapel) of Capannori and the Abbey of Pozzeveri. Of course you should take your time to visit the historical town of Lucca (and perhaps make a roundwalk over its town walls), and it’s possible to spend more time here, after which you’ll take the train – avoiding the most ‘boring’ part tof the route. And also the old city centre of Altopascio is beautiful.

Hotel (example): Hotel Cavalieri dei Tau***

After an early breakfast you begin your long walk to San Miniato. After another flat initial stretch you’ll finally tackle the first Tuscan hills, the area of the Cerbaie Nature Reserve, wild and deserted. Then you walk over the ancient Medici bridge in Ponte a Cappiano. Follows another flat section, through the plain of the reclaimed Fucecchio swamp (parts of which are still wetlands – a very interesting area for birdwatching). By lunchtime you’ll enter the beautiful historic town of Fucecchio. Shortly after you’ll cross the River Arno, and follow it for a while, heading to the small medieval town of San Miniato, beautifully located on the hilltop.

Hotel (example): Hotel San Miniato***

Today you leave San Miniato with a beautiful daywalk ahead. After a stretch along a small asphalt road, you finally the typical Tuscan landscape of rolling hills, cypress lined lanes and isolated farmhouses. Here the Via Francigena enters the area of the Val d’Elsa. This area has been inhabited since pre-historic times, but became an important trading area in the Etruscan era. The medieval Via Francigena here basically followed the old Etruscan trading routes and the Roman ‘Via Clodia’ between Siena and Lucca. You’ll walk past the Pieve of Coiano and the Pieve in Chianni, heading for Gambassi Terme. In the Early Middle Ages many travellers passed through here, and it is testified that the Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury stayed overnight in Gambassi Terme, a charming little town with thermal baths. If you arrive on time here, perhaps you have the time for some ‘wellness’, otherwise you can visit the nice town centre with the beautiful Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Chianni, a fascinating and significant example of Romanesque architecture (with a bit of luck, you can even attend a concert, which are often organized here).

Hotel (example): Villa Delle Certosa

Today’s route is one of the best-known parts of the Via Francigena, as it passes right through one of the most scenic medieval Tuscan towns, San Gimignano. From Gambassi Terme you first walk a stretch through the hills, up to the Sanctuary of Pancole. Soon after, walking past several old ‘pievi’ (countryside churches) and villas, you will already have the first views of the San Gimignano skyline. This wonderful medieval town – sometimes referred to as having the only “skyscrapers” in Tuscany – is an absolute must, with picturesque vineyards and olive and cypress groves on either side. You have some time to explore this little romantic town with its medieval towers, of which there were once 52 (there are now less than a dozen) – wealthy, prominent families would use the height of these towers to distinguish themselves, but the towers also had a practical use in alerting the inhabitants of this walled town of approaching friends and foes. Do make a nice stroll around its impressive town walls. Then you continue  the Via Francigena to your accommodation for the night: a beautiful agriturismo. You’ll have two options to walk there: either along the convent of Monte Oliveto, located on a wide ridge, then down to a small stream, which you have to cross, before climbing up to your agriturismo, or along a beautiful route through the rolling vineyards. Make sure you get there on time to fully enjoy its fabulous setting and surroundings, and perhaps its library or swimming pool too. Dinner at the private restaurant is included tonight.

Hotel (exampel): Agriturismo La Torraccia di Chiusi****
Hotel (exampel): Hotel La Vecchia Ceriera*** (Colle di val d'Elsa)

Today you leave the agriturismo and head for Monteriggioni, described by Dante as a crown on the Tuscan landscape. The walk first brings you down into the river valley, and then, more or less following the Foci, you reach one of the most wonderful Romanesque churches in Tuscany, la Badia a Conèo. The next stop is Quartaia, followed by Gracciano, once one of the most important wheat towns in Tuscany. Another short stretch brings you to the Badia ad Isola, once an important stop on the medieval Via Francigena, and a very intriguing building. The final destination for today is Monteriggioni, where you’ll have time for a drink in the square, before settling in at your centrally located hotel. In the evening you can take a nice stroll into town to have dinner in one of the nice restaurants.

Notice: Today you need to pick up the key for your accommodation in a restaurant next to the rooms. The restaurant does not open until 6:30 pm, so you will not be able to get into the rooms until that time.


Hotel (example): Camere nel Castello

Today you leave Monteriggioni in southern direction, heading for Siena. After having crossed the Via Cassia you follow the so-called ‘strade bianche’ (gravel roads) through the hills and forests to the Northwest of Siena. There are several interesting sights along the way like the abandoned medieval village of Cerbaia, the castles of Chiocciola and the Convent of San Leonardo, just above the reclaimed plain of Pian del Lago. Then you’ll walk through the forest of Renai and will approach Siena from the West. You’ll enter the city through Porta Camollia, the traditional access to Siena from the North. Indeed you will notice several medieval ‘Hostels’ along the road towards the centre of town. You settle in at your centrally located hotel, just a few minutes away from the famous ‘Piazza del Campo’. In the evening you can take a nice stroll into town to have dinner in one of the many nice restaurants, or sip a drink in the ‘Piazza del Campo’.

Notice: Breakfast is not included this morning.

Hotel (example): Hotel Chiusarelli

End of the tour. From Siena there are regular buses back to Florence (and also to Rome).

Prices and dates

Prices per person in EUR

The price includes

Not included
  • Transportation to/from Italy
  • Tourist tax (if due)
  • Handling fee (20 euro)

Practical information

Here you can get answers to various questions about the trip
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The price is based upon two people sharing. It is also possible travel alone in a single room. Simply choose "1 person" in the booking form and it will automatically add the single room surcharge.

On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.

Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:

  1. Choose your desired start date
  2. Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
  3. Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).

Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.

The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.

Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.

The flights to/from Pisa or Rome are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.

Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.

Get a quote
If you prefer that we handle your flight, then we would be happy to arrange this for you. You simply book a quote below the map on this page and we will return with a quote as soon as possible (usually within 48 working hours). Please note that we add a handling fee of 45 euro to each flight and this means that the flight will be cheaper if you book it yourself.

On this tour you will stay at the following standards:

Lucca: 3-star hotel
Altopascio: 3-star hotel
San Miniato: 4-star hotel
Gambassi Terme: 3-star hotel
San Gimignano: 4-star Agriturismo
Monteriggioni: 2-star hotel
Siena: 3-star hotel

 

Breakfast is included every day (except day 7). We have also included a dinner in San Gimignano, where you will be staying in a lovely Agriturismo.

This trip has difficulty level 2-3, which means that most hiking days are level 2, with a few at level 3.

Grade 2
Easier hikes on reasonably good trails. Daily hikes will last 4-6 hours in hilly terrain. Anyone in generally good physical condition can participate. Luggage is transported, and you only carry a light daypack. Requires well-fitting footwear such as trekking shoes or hiking boots.

Grade 3
Hiking in mountainous terrain with longer ascents and descents. You will hike 5-7 hours a day. Requires generally good fitness and health, but no special technical skills or prior experience. Requires good shoes, such as trekking or mountain boots.

Read more about our grading system here.

Here you can get an overview of the entire route and the elevation profile for each day. The data shows the data from the GPX-files related to the tour. Notice that the routes are sometimes updated, which means that there might be small variations.

See a map of the whole route

See the elevation profile

Colors
Blue routes: The route as normal
Red routes: Variations/options (such as shortened or extended routes)

On this tour, you will receive the following documents:

Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.

One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.

Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.

We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.

Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.

After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.

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