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This leg starts in Lucca and is 17.8 km long, taking about 4 hours to complete. Leave from Porta San Gervasio for a flat and easy route; it is attractive for the many historic and religious buildings encountered. Once you get to Capannori, you'll see the parish church of San Quirico then, shortly after the town of Porcari; from there 500 meters away you'll reach the Badia di Pozzeveri.
From here, you'll pass the church of San Jacopo, the end of this leg in Altopascio. In this area, once covered by forests and known for its robbers hiding out, the hospitality of the Knights of Tau was a safe haven for the pilgrims.
We recommend cautious travel a stretch of road around the fraction of Corte Ginori and along the numerous crossings of the provincial roads. Outside of residential areas is not possible to obtain supplies of water.
See the path
Total length (km): 17.8
Type of Travel: On foot, with hybrid bikes and mountain bikes
Travel time on foot (h: min): 4.00
Difference in height (m): 30
Descent (m): 30
Maximum height (m): 24
Difficulty: Easy
Paved roads: 96%
Dirt roads and driveways: 1%
Mule tracks and trails: 3%
Cycling: 100%
Getting to the point of departure: Florence-Viareggio railway lines and Aulla-Lucca, Lucca station
WHAT TO SEE
Lucca - The city of Lucca, which is found near the Via Francigena, was reached by pilgrims coming from the plains and along two roads, the "Via de supra" and "Via de subtus", the first which ran through the town once called "Feliciaio", while the latter crossed the Lombard settlement called Tempagnano.
The first destination of pilgrims who came to Lucca was the famous wooden crucifix called the 'Holy Face,' a statue-reliquary kept in the Cathedral of San Martino, which according to legend, was carved by Nicodemus. The best known story is that by pilgrim Leobino from 1282 in the city of the Volto Santo, entered the cathedral began to sing because he had nothing else to offer and suddenly saw the right foot of Jesus, who pulled off the big sock made of silver and put them on Leobino's knees, twice. The silver shoes (XVII century) are now exhibited in the museum, along with the precious garments used on May 3 and September 14 to dress the crucifix of the Volto Santo. In the city, many hospitals attached to the main churches provided shelter and food for the pilgrims.
In the National Museum of Villa Guinigi has an important relief depicting St. James (second half of the twelfth century.) Coming from the Hospital of Alton, another well-known destination for pilgrims. Since the ninth century, Galicia was found in the tomb of St. James, the apostle who is credited with the Christianization of Spain. The stations of the pilgrimage routes were dotted with images of the saint in the role of protector of the pilgrims, with big sticks and shells, or "matamoros", while riding horses and battling the infidel lands. The image in the museum shows less common iconography, with the saint seated on a throne placed in an archway, while holding a scroll that reads: IACOBUS DEI ET DOMINI NOSTRI IESUS XRISTI SERVUS. Definitely inspired by the sculpture of the fourth century, the work, which along with its counterpart representing St. Peter, is one of the most interesting productions of sculpture from Pisa and Lucca from the second half of the twelfth century, and it was probably part of a frontal altar, suggestively reconstructed in the Museum of Lucca.
Segromigno - Here you can admire the church of San Lorenzo.
Capannori - Particularly rich in medieval fortifications and churches, Capannori also boasts the church of San Leonardo in Treponzio, the facade of which is attributed to the school Guidetto; and San Gennaro, with a very rich decoration. After Capannori, you will come across in the country of Lammari, where you'll find the church of St Christopher, which dates back to the twelfth century.
Lunata - Here, you will pass the Hospital of St. Matthew and Pellegrino, a centre for ancient travelers, and part of the parish of San Frediano, of which the tower and some traces of the old church remain.
Rughi - In the small town of Rughi, which is probably of Lombard origin, one can admire the Church of Santa Maria; over the years it has undergone radical architectural transformations and today it unfortunately does not preserve any remnants of the adjacent thirteenth hospital.
Porcari - Next stop on the itinerary as a center that housed, in the early eleventh century, the churches of St. Mary and St. Michael the Archangel, the surviving remnants of the castle was the scene of clashes between opposing factions of nobility of the area.
Montecarlo - It is worth visiting the castle and the parish church of San Piero in Campo, dating back to the 12th century and is still well preserved.
HOSPITALITY FOR PILGRIMS
Altopascio: Foresteria degli Ospitalieri, Via Casali - Per informazioni e prenotazioni: Biblioteca Comunale Tel 0583 216280 - Ufficio Turismo Tel 0583 216525 - turismo@comune.altopascio.lu.it – 7 spots
From here, you'll pass the church of San Jacopo, the end of this leg in Altopascio. In this area, once covered by forests and known for its robbers hiding out, the hospitality of the Knights of Tau was a safe haven for the pilgrims.
We recommend cautious travel a stretch of road around the fraction of Corte Ginori and along the numerous crossings of the provincial roads. Outside of residential areas is not possible to obtain supplies of water.
See the path
Total length (km): 17.8
Type of Travel: On foot, with hybrid bikes and mountain bikes
Travel time on foot (h: min): 4.00
Difference in height (m): 30
Descent (m): 30
Maximum height (m): 24
Difficulty: Easy
Paved roads: 96%
Dirt roads and driveways: 1%
Mule tracks and trails: 3%
Cycling: 100%
Getting to the point of departure: Florence-Viareggio railway lines and Aulla-Lucca, Lucca station
WHAT TO SEE
Lucca - The city of Lucca, which is found near the Via Francigena, was reached by pilgrims coming from the plains and along two roads, the "Via de supra" and "Via de subtus", the first which ran through the town once called "Feliciaio", while the latter crossed the Lombard settlement called Tempagnano.
The first destination of pilgrims who came to Lucca was the famous wooden crucifix called the 'Holy Face,' a statue-reliquary kept in the Cathedral of San Martino, which according to legend, was carved by Nicodemus. The best known story is that by pilgrim Leobino from 1282 in the city of the Volto Santo, entered the cathedral began to sing because he had nothing else to offer and suddenly saw the right foot of Jesus, who pulled off the big sock made of silver and put them on Leobino's knees, twice. The silver shoes (XVII century) are now exhibited in the museum, along with the precious garments used on May 3 and September 14 to dress the crucifix of the Volto Santo. In the city, many hospitals attached to the main churches provided shelter and food for the pilgrims.
In the National Museum of Villa Guinigi has an important relief depicting St. James (second half of the twelfth century.) Coming from the Hospital of Alton, another well-known destination for pilgrims. Since the ninth century, Galicia was found in the tomb of St. James, the apostle who is credited with the Christianization of Spain. The stations of the pilgrimage routes were dotted with images of the saint in the role of protector of the pilgrims, with big sticks and shells, or "matamoros", while riding horses and battling the infidel lands. The image in the museum shows less common iconography, with the saint seated on a throne placed in an archway, while holding a scroll that reads: IACOBUS DEI ET DOMINI NOSTRI IESUS XRISTI SERVUS. Definitely inspired by the sculpture of the fourth century, the work, which along with its counterpart representing St. Peter, is one of the most interesting productions of sculpture from Pisa and Lucca from the second half of the twelfth century, and it was probably part of a frontal altar, suggestively reconstructed in the Museum of Lucca.
Segromigno - Here you can admire the church of San Lorenzo.
Capannori - Particularly rich in medieval fortifications and churches, Capannori also boasts the church of San Leonardo in Treponzio, the facade of which is attributed to the school Guidetto; and San Gennaro, with a very rich decoration. After Capannori, you will come across in the country of Lammari, where you'll find the church of St Christopher, which dates back to the twelfth century.
Lunata - Here, you will pass the Hospital of St. Matthew and Pellegrino, a centre for ancient travelers, and part of the parish of San Frediano, of which the tower and some traces of the old church remain.
Rughi - In the small town of Rughi, which is probably of Lombard origin, one can admire the Church of Santa Maria; over the years it has undergone radical architectural transformations and today it unfortunately does not preserve any remnants of the adjacent thirteenth hospital.
Porcari - Next stop on the itinerary as a center that housed, in the early eleventh century, the churches of St. Mary and St. Michael the Archangel, the surviving remnants of the castle was the scene of clashes between opposing factions of nobility of the area.
Montecarlo - It is worth visiting the castle and the parish church of San Piero in Campo, dating back to the 12th century and is still well preserved.
HOSPITALITY FOR PILGRIMS
Altopascio: Foresteria degli Ospitalieri, Via Casali - Per informazioni e prenotazioni: Biblioteca Comunale Tel 0583 216280 - Ufficio Turismo Tel 0583 216525 - turismo@comune.altopascio.lu.it – 7 spots
