Overview
The Northern Tuscany section of Via Francigena starts in the medieval town of Lucca with its beautiful gardens and villas. The first stage of the tour is through the open and flatlands of the Val d’Elsa. Then you will explore the medieval atmosphere evoked by the narrow streets and the buildings made from the local sandstone of some of the most popular medieval villages in Tuscany, such as Monteriggioni and San Gimignano that with its thirteen outstanding towers became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1990. Reaching Siena, you will enjoy a landscape made of open rolling hills with grey crags of the beautiful and picturesque Crete Senesi.
- The spectacular landscapes of the Tuscany countryside
- The historical fortified military village of Monteriggioni
- The charming UNESCO towns of San Gimignano and Siena
- Delicious Tuscan culinary specialities
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lucca
Arrive in Lucca. If you arrive early, enjoy a visit to the town, and explore its splendid gardens, majestic bell tower and impressive Piazza Anfiteatro, a 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre. Don’t miss a walk along the tree-lined walls of its perimeter. Dinner is on your own in one of the many restaurants in town.
- Accommodation: hotel in Lucca (Hotel Rex or similar)
Day 2: Arrive San Miniato Alto
After breakfast, take some time to visit the wooden crucifix known as the Holy Face (“Volto Santo”), a famous statue-reliquary in the Cathedral of Saint Martin and legendarily carved by Nicodemus. In the afternoon, take a public train with your luggage to Fucecchio, where you will be picked up and taken to your accommodation in San Miniato Alto.
- Accommodation: hotel in San Miniato Alto (Hotel San Miniato or similar)
Day 3: San Miniato Alto to Gambassi | 25km
From San Miniato, a paved road brings you to a spectacular route crossing the typical countryside of the Val d’Elsa. Following the Sigeric’s diary, you meet two “Submansiones”: Pieve di Coiano (XXI, Sce Peter Currant) and Pieve a Chianni (XX, Sce Maria Glan), and then you arrive at your accommodation. Dinner is included in the agriturismo.
- Walking for the day: 25km, 7h, ↑781m ↓654m
- Accommodation: agriturismo in Gambassi Terme (Agriturismo Tenuta Sant’Ilario or similar)
Day 4: Gambassi to San Gimignano | 18km
Today you enjoy the wonderful surroundings of the Via Francigena. Before walking up to the peculiar villages of Collemuccioli and Pieve di Cellole, stop for a visit at the Sanctuary in Pancole. If you arrive early, take some time to visit the famous town of San Gimignano and enjoy its charming medieval atmosphere.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 6h, ↑595m ↓540m
- Accommodation: hotel in San Gimignano (Hotel La Cisterna or similar)
Day 5: San Gimignano to Gracciano | 21km
Today you walk a gorgeous path of the Via Francigena. Going up and down the Tuscan hills, crossing vineyards, olive groves, fields and woods, you finally reach your accommodation in Gracciano. Along the way, you can make a detour to discover the fascinating Abbey of Santa Maria a Conero of the XI century.
- Walking for the day: 21km, 6h, ↑209m ↓204m
- Accommodation: hotel in Colle Val d’Elsa (Hotel Il Pietreto or similar)
Day 6: Gracciano to Monteriggioni | 13km
From Gracciano, cross Pieve a Elsa and meet the ancient Etruscan Thermae (hot pool) of Caldane. After reaching Strove and its beautiful Romanesque Church, continue walking along the complex of Abbadia a Isola till you reach the medieval town of Monteriggioni, surrounded by its peculiar crown of towers.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 4h, ↑132m ↓57m
- Accommodation: hotel in Monteriggioni (Hotel Borgo Gallinaio or similar; from 2023 – Hotel Il Piccolo Castello)
Day 7: Monteriggioni to Siena | 20km
Leaving Monteriggioni, you walk on dirt roads along the Montagnola Senese, the main hilly area in the district. You pass the ancient medieval suburb of Cerbaia that appears currently abandoned. Across the wood, you reach the Castle of “Chiocciola” and go up to Poggio di Riciano. Descend the old river of the Pian del Lago (or skip Poggio di Riciano to arrive directly from Chiocciola to Pian del Lago). At the end of the Renai forest, enter the beautiful town of Siena for its ancient pilgrim’s access to Porta Camollia.
- Walking for the day: 20km, 6h, ↑224m ↓245m
- Accommodation: hotel in Siena (Hotel Chiusarrelli or similar)
Day 8: Departure
Departure on your own or extra nights in Siena upon request.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in selected 3-star hotels in towns and agriturismi* and inns in the villages. All rooms have en-suite facilities. All places have been carefully hand-picked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour. Some hotels have a swimming pool. The hotel in Monteriggioni is located at ~1.6km from the walled village of Monteriggioni. If you prefer to stay in the city centre, you have to inform us in advance, but there are only two options – a room rental and a 4-star hotel with a supplement – Hotel Monteriggioni.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Rex (Lucca)
- Hotel San Miniato (San Miniato)
- Agriturismo Tenuta Sant’Ilario (Gambassi Terme)
- Hotel La Cisterna (San Gimignano)
- Hotel Il Pietreto (Colle Val d’Elsa)
- Hotel Borgo Gallinaio, from 2023 – Hotel Il Piccolo Castello (Monteriggioni)
- Hotel Chiusarrelli (Siena)
*What is an agriturismo? A combination of the words for “agriculture” and “tourism” in Italian — It is a farm-stay, but it’s also much, much more. Typically, an agriturismo is an independently-owned farm that the owners have decided to use partially for accommodation purposes, in a way similar to English or American bed and breakfasts. One of the best parts of staying in a traditional agriturismo? The food. An Italian agriturismo will usually serve guests food that was prepared from raw materials – vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, and often wine and olive oil – produced on the farm or from other local merchants.
**Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included every day, as well as one dinner (Day 3). Packed lunches can be pre-ordered at the accommodations or you can buy products from local shops. For dinner, you will usually have plenty of options in the villages you are staying in.
Difficulty and terrain
The route is relatively easy and accessible due to low elevation gains. A good level of fitness is required for enjoying the walks to the maximum (read more about difficulty grades). The whole itinerary is mostly on paths and gravel roads (strade bianche), even if you will find some sections on asphalted road. Some walks are quite long but can be optionally shortened using local transport or private transfers. The whole itinerary is well marked by the Official signs of the Via Francigena – white-red markings and yellow sign with the Pilgrim symbol on it. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
You can start your holiday every day between the beginning of April and the end of October. Spring and autumn months are a preferred travel period if you want to avoid the summer heat of July and August (If you’d like to catch the famous Palio di Siena, you will have to travel in July or August, however). In September – October, you will enjoy pleasant temperatures and might also be able to catch the regional wine harvest.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airports for this holiday are Florence and Pisa. Other Italian airports are also well connected to the area.
By train or bus
Arrival in Lucca
From Pisa Airport (PSA), you can take a train to Lucca with change in Pisa Centrale station.
From Florence Airport (FLR), take a public bus to Florence Santa Maria Novella Train Station, and then a train to Lucca (with change in Pisa Centrale). Or you can use the Omio planner above.
Departure from Siena
To Pisa airport PSA: you first need to reach Florence by bus. Once in Florence, you need to take a train to Pisa Central Station. From there, you can reach the airport by either bus or train. As an alternative, you can catch a bus from Siena station to Pisa airport.
To Florence airport FLR: you first need to reach Florence train station Santa Maria Novella by either bus or train (both direct). Once in Santa Maria Novella, you can reach the airport by either taxi or bus.
- Train timetables are available on www.trenitalia.com
- Bus timetables on www.busfox.com/timetable (Florence-Siena)
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in selected 3-star hotels and agriturismi, private en-suite rooms
- 7 breakfasts
- 1 dinner on Day 3
- Transfer from San Miniato train station to the hotel
- Luggage transfers on all walking days (1 piece per person up to 20kg; each additional piece should be paid)
- Holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route notes and maps (digital copy sent by email and a hard copy delivered at the first hotel) and pilgrim passport
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches and 6 dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist tax and entry fees (payable on the spot)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘Included’ in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- Supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room / single use of a double room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights
- Accommodation at a 4-star hotel in Monteriggioni in the centre – on request and with a supplement.
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