Via Francigena: Lucca to Rome

Stage routesItaly

Via Francigena: Lucca to Rome

404 km from Lucca to Rome in 18 days. The most scenic section, and the one that earns the testimonium.

On foot · Stage by stage · 404 km · 18 stages · 2 min read

What the Via Francigena is like

From Lucca to Rome you cross the most recognisable Tuscany: the towers of San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Siena and the cypress hills of the Val d'Orcia. Then come Lake Bolsena, Viterbo and the entry into Rome along the Via Cassia to St Peter's Square.

It is far quieter than the Camino Francés and shade is scarce. The climb to Radicofani is the serious stage, and between Radicofani and Acquapendente there are long stretches without fountains.

Key facts

TypeOn foot
Distance404 km
Total climbing7,250 m
Start and finishLucca → Roma
On foot18 days, 22 km a day on average
By bike7 days, 58 km a day on average
When to goApril to June and September to October. August in Tuscany goes past 35 degrees.
Pick your stages

From where to where?

The whole route is 18 stages. Pick where you start and finish: always in a stage town.

Usual: 18 days.

KEAGO MAP
ⓘ© MapTiler · © OpenStreetMap contributors
Route profile404 km · 18 stages
0 m500 m1,000 m1356891012141618

Altitude of each stage town; each stage's climbing is in its details.

18 days, 404.4 km and 7,250 m of climbing: about 22.5 km a day and 17 nights on the way.

  1. Lucca → Altopascio18 km · 90 m D+Eat: Galleno
  2. Altopascio → San Miniato28.8 km · 380 m D+
  3. San Miniato → Gambassi Terme24 km · 680 m D+Eat: Coiano
  4. Gambassi Terme → San Gimignano13.4 km · 420 m D+
  5. San Gimignano → Monteriggioni30.6 km · 620 m D+Eat: Colle di Val d'Elsa
  6. Monteriggioni → Siena20.6 km · 380 m D+
  7. Siena → Ponte d'Arbia26.2 km · 330 m D+Eat: Buonconvento
  8. Ponte d'Arbia → San Quirico d'Orcia26 km · 560 m D+
  9. San Quirico d'Orcia → Radicofani32.4 km · 1000 m D+Eat: Bagno Vignoni
  10. Radicofani → Acquapendente23.5 km · 250 m D+
  11. Acquapendente → Bolsena22.1 km · 420 m D+Eat: San Lorenzo Nuovo
  12. Bolsena → Montefiascone18 km · 420 m D+
  13. Montefiascone → Viterbo18.1 km · 120 m D+
  14. Viterbo → Vetralla15.9 km · 250 m D+Eat: Capranica
  15. Vetralla → Sutri22.6 km · 330 m D+
  16. Sutri → Campagnano di Roma24.2 km · 420 m D+Eat: Monterosi
  17. Campagnano di Roma → La Storta23.6 km · 380 m D+
  18. La Storta → Roma16.4 km · 200 m D+

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How to plan it

It is 18 stages and 404 km, about 22 km a day. With less time, the last hundred kilometres from Viterbo take five days and earn the testimonium at St Peter's. By bike there are signed variants along most of the route and it takes a week.

Many villages have only two or three places to sleep, so Monteriggioni, San Gimignano and Radicofani are booked weeks ahead. A rest day in Siena halfway through is welcome. In summer, leave around 6:30 and sit out the afternoon in the shade.

Stages

  1. Lucca → Altopascio18 km · +90 mEat: Galleno, Fucecchio
  2. Altopascio → San Miniato28.8 km · +380 mFederico's tower and truffles
  3. San Miniato → Gambassi Terme24 km · +680 mEat: Coiano, Pancole
  4. Gambassi Terme → San Gimignano13.4 km · +420 mFourteen medieval towers
  5. San Gimignano → Monteriggioni30.6 km · +620 mEat: Colle di Val d'Elsa
  6. Monteriggioni → Siena20.6 km · +380 mPiazza del Campo and the Duomo
  7. Siena → Ponte d'Arbia26.2 km · +330 mEat: Buonconvento, Torrenieri
  8. Ponte d'Arbia → San Quirico d'Orcia26 km · +560 mVal d'Orcia and Horti Leonini
  9. San Quirico d'Orcia → Radicofani32.4 km · +1,000 mEat: Bagno Vignoni, Ponte a Rigo
  10. Radicofani → Acquapendente23.5 km · +250 mHoly Sepulchre basilica
  11. Acquapendente → Bolsena22.1 km · +420 mEat: San Lorenzo Nuovo, Bolsena
  12. Bolsena → Montefiascone18 km · +420 m
  13. Montefiascone → Viterbo18.1 km · +120 mSan Pellegrino quarter and hot springs
  14. Viterbo → Vetralla15.9 km · +250 mEat: Capranica
  15. Vetralla → Sutri22.6 km · +330 mAmphitheatre carved into rock
  16. Sutri → Campagnano di Roma24.2 km · +420 mEat: Monterosi, Isola Farnese
  17. Campagnano di Roma → La Storta23.6 km · +380 m
  18. La Storta → Roma16.4 km · +200 mSt Peter's, the Forum and Trastevere

One stage a day, town to town. Approximate distance and climbing: every GPX varies a little.

Frequently asked questions

How long is Via Francigena: Lucca to Rome?404 km in total, with around 7,250 m of climbing.
How many days does it take?18 days on foot (22 km average per stage); 7 days by bike (58 km average per stage).
Where do people usually sleep?The usual overnight points are Altopascio, San Miniato, Gambassi Terme, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Siena, Ponte d'Arbia, San Quirico. The stage table lists them section by section.
Where does Via Francigena: Lucca to Rome start and end?It starts in Lucca and ends in Roma. You can start or finish at any stage end.
When is the best time to go?April to June and September to October. August in Tuscany goes past 35 degrees.

In Keago this route becomes a plan: one card per stage with time and duration, the daily track, each night's accommodation with link and location, the meals, and both travel tickets where the whole group can see them. Everyone confirms and you know who is missing.

Create your account and keep building your Via Francigena: Lucca to Rome plan.

It is free and takes a minute.

  • Save the plan and pick up where you left off
  • Carry it on your phone, map and times included
  • Send it to your group with one link
  • Download the itinerary and the calendar
Create my accountI already have an account