Walk the historic Via Francigena pilgrimage route from Lucca to Siena
Beauty and adventure await you on this Via Francigena pilgrimage walking tour through Tuscany. Enjoy the best of the Italian countryside as you walk from Lucca to Siena along the ancient pilgrimage route. Panoramic views of rolling hills and vineyard stretch out before you like a painting on this incredible tour.
Moving at your own pace, this self-guided tour takes you to historic towns and villages where you can experience Italy’s famous architecture, art, music, and history. This tour is a feast for the senses as you delight yourself with the sights, sounds, tastes, and scents of the wonderful Tuscan countryside.
Relax and enjoy the experience knowing that details such as accommodations and luggage transfers are managed for you. This tour is part hiking trip, part cultural and historical tour, and all adventure! You’ll never forget your Via Francigena tour from Lucca to Siena!
Highlights of the Via Francigena from Lucca to Siena
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Via Francigena from Lucca to Siena Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Lucca
Travel to Lucca, check in to your hotel then check out the town! Wander past splendid gardens, marvel at the majestic bell tower and be stunned by the impressive Piazza Anfiteatro, a 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre. To get a better perspective, make sure to walk the perimeter along tree-lined walls. This evening, stroll round the town squares to whet your appetite and select a restaurant for dinner.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lucca
Meals: None
Day 2 Travel to San Miniato Alto
This morning you wander over to San Martin Cathedral and come face to face, in a literal sense, with the expressive ‘Volto Santo’, famous wooden statue-reliquary of Christ Crucified attributed to Nicodemus. In the afternoon, jump on the train to Fucecchio where you’ll be met for the transfer to your accommodation perched high in the hilltop town of San Miniato Alto.
Overnight Location: Hotel in San Miniato Alto
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Walk from San Miniato Alto to Gambassi
Take to a bit of tarmac, then veer off on a spectacular route through quintessential Tuscan countryside in the Val d’Elsa. Thrilling to scenes straight out of the famed Road to Rome diary penned by Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, you stumble upon two exquisite gems: Pieve di Coiano and Pieve a Chianni. Your route ends in Gambassi, home to Florentine nobles since its 14th-century origin.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gambassi
Distance: 7 hours, 25km, 780 m ascent, 655 m descent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4 Walk from Gambassi to San Gimignano
The Via Francigena cuts directly through stunning scenery today, as you make your way to peculiar villages like Collemuccioli and Pieve di Cellole stopping off to visit Santa Maria Sanctuary in Pancole. At the end of the day, San Gimignano invites you to stroll back in history. So go ahead, get lost in its charming medieval atmosphere! Then follow your nose to succulent aromas, peeking into restaurants to select a spot for dinner.
Overnight Location: Hotel in San Gimignano
Distance: 6 hours, 18km, 595 m ascent, 540 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Walk from San Gimignano to Gracciano
The pilgrimage route simply outdoes itself today as you roam toward Rome, hiking up and down the Tuscan hills among vineyards and olive groves, fields and woodlands. If you’re feeling extra energetic, take an optional detour to the fascinating 11th-century Abbey of Santa Maria a Conero.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gracciano
Distance: 6 hours, 21km, 210 m ascent, 205 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Walk from Gracciano to Monteriggioni
Passing Pieve a Elsa, a site with a thousand-year history where a chapel once stood, you slip further back in time to the ancient Etruscan hot springs at Thermae di Caldane. Next, Strove’s robust Romanesque church awaits as does the bizarre complex at Abbadia a Isola, founded in the palindromic year of 1001. Spend the night in medieval Monteriggioni, where a peculiar crown of towers encircles the village.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Monteriggioni
Distance: 4 hours,13 km, 130 m ascent, 55 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Walk from Monteriggioni to Siena
Take off on dirt tracks through the classic hills of Montagnola Senese, passing the ancient medieval village of Cerbaia, seemingly lost in time. A pretty story-book castle, ‘Castello della Chiocciola’, sprouts up among groves of trees en route to Pian del Lago, with or without a detour via Il Poggio di Riciano. Revel in the quiet coolness of Renai Forest before you strut proudly through the Porta Camollia, historic pilgrims’ gate into splendid Siena. Tonight you will embrace yet another challenge, choosing the very best place for a farewell dinner!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Siena
Distance: 6 hours, 20km, 225 m ascent, 245 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Arrivederci Siena!
Your self-guided pilgrimage comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Extra nights in Siena can be booked in advance, allowing time to explore this gorgeous city.
Overnight Location: None
Meals: Breakfast
The departure is available on any day of the week. Prices below are per person:
Departures on September 15th – 30th, 2023:
- Solo traveller: $1,450 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,325 USD
- Sharing a double room: $895 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $795 USD
Departures on October 1st – 31st, 2023:
- Solo traveller: $1,295 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,175 USD
- Sharing a double room: $825 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $750 USD
Departures on April 1st – 28th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,395 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,250 USD
- Sharing a double room: $875 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $775 USD
Departures on April 29th – May 25th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,450 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,325 USD
- Sharing a double room: $895 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $795 USD
Departures on May 26th – June 15th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,475 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,350 USD
- Sharing a double room: $925 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $795 USD
Departures on June 16th – July 10th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,525 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,375 USD
- Sharing a double room: $925 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $825 USD
Departures on July 11th – 24th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,525 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,395 USD
- Sharing a double room: $950 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $825 USD
Departures on July 25th – August 22nd, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,650 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,525 USD
- Sharing a double room: $1,025 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $875 USD
Departures on August 23rd – September 19th, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,525 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,395 USD
- Sharing a double room: $950 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $825 USD
Departures on September 20th – October 3rd, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,475 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,350 USD
- Sharing a double room: $925 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $795 USD
Departures on October 4th – 31st, 2024:
- Solo traveller: $1,395 USD
- Single room (group of 2+): $1,250 USD
- Sharing a double room: $875 USD
- Sharing a triple room: $775 USD
Accommodation on Via Francigena from Lucca to Siena Tour
This tour is based in 3-star hotels and B&Bs. The hotels offer pleasant rooms with ensuite bathrooms and great locations. The standard rooms are of double occupancy. In some cases, accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotel Rex in Lucca ★★★
Hotel Rex*** is 80 m from the main train station and 100 m from the ancient walls of Lucca. Rooms are quiet and well-finished with free Wi-Fi, air conditioned, telephone and fridge.
Hotel San Miniato in San Miniato ★★★
What in the thirteenth century was a severe monastery cloister is now Hotel San Miniato, refined historic home sits on a hill overlooking the Tuscan countryside between Florence and Pisa.
Agriturismo Tenuta Sant'Ilario in Gambassi Terme
Tenuta Sant'Ilario is immersed in the Chianti countryside, among vineyards and olive groves. Located 10km from San Gimignano, consists of a stone-walled villa, a restaurant and an outdoor pool.
Hotel La Cisterna in San Gimignano ★★★
The hotel is both overlooking the ancient Piazza della Cisterna used to welcome pilgrims from all over the world and charming hills of San Gimignano.
Hotel Il Pietreto in Colle Val d'Elsa ★★★
Hotel Il Pietreto is 4km from Colle Val d'Elsa and consists of an 18th-century country house with restaurant and two outdoor swimming pools.
Il Piccolo Castello in Monteriggioni ★★★
This 4 star hotel lies in the shade of the stronghold of Monteriggioni, the fortress that historically protected the citi of Siena from military attack.
Hotel Chiusarelli in Siena ★★★
Hotel Chiusarelli*** is in the city center of Siena and finds its natural setting in a neoclassical villa built around 1870.
What’s Included in the Via Francigena from Lucca to Siena Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts and 1 dinner are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights during the tour are included. You can also book additional nights along the route.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes full transfer from San Miniato train station to accommodation and luggage transfers for other walking days (1 piece per person, up to 20kg).
Also Included
- Pilgrims's passport
- Digital detailed route notes and maps in English
- Access to the trip on navigation app
- 24-hour telephone assistance
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Travel to Lucca and from Siena
- Trains or busses wherever necessary
- Lunches & Dinners not specifically mentioned
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Tourist taxes
Optional Extras
- Upgrade to single room
- Additional nights at standard accommodations along the way
- Private transfer from airport to Lucca
- Private transfer from Siena to airport
Frequently Asked Questions about Via Francigena from Lucca to Siena
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