B&B La Loggia
- Rooms
- Meals
- Wi-Fi
B&B with a spaghetteria on Piazza Ricasoli, right on the trail in the old centre. Book on the website or by phone.
Via Francigena · Stage 1 of 18
Lucca to Altopascio
Stage 1 of the Via Francigena covers 18.2 km from Lucca to Altopascio, with 27 m of ascent and 37 m of descent. The highest point is 25 m. Allow about 4 hours of walking, plus breaks.
18.2 kmdistance
27 mascent
37 mdescent
~4 hwalking time
moderatedifficulty
25 mhighest point
≈ 2.25 L
≈ 1,110 kcal
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Where to sleep and eat on this stage
Altopascio
Foresteria La Pistacchia
- Rooms
- Seasonal — call ahead
- Listed, not confirmed — call first
Donation-based pilgrim hostel with 10 bunks in the main square, Piazza Ricasoli, run by the Sentieri di Felicità association; credential needed. Open April to October, the rest of the year only by booking.
Hotel Cavalieri del Tau
Albergo Cavalieri del Tau
- Rooms
- Meals
- Wi-Fi
Hotel in the centre of Altopascio, about 150 m from the trail, named after the medieval Knights of the Tau who ran the pilgrim hospital.
Hotel Paola
- Rooms
- Meals
- Wi-Fi
Simple one-star hotel on Via Francesca Romea at the entrance to Altopascio, on the trail and 400 m from the centre; it advertises rooms for Via Francigena pilgrims.
Badia Pozzeveri
Ostello San Pietro, Badia Pozzeveri
Ostello San Pietro
- Rooms
- Meals
- Seasonal — call ahead
- Listed, not confirmed — call first
Donation-based pilgrim hostel with 20 bunks in the old canonry of the abbey at Badia Pozzeveri, on the trail about 5 km before Altopascio; shared dinner and breakfast by donation. Open April to October.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "listed, not confirmed" appear on a public listing (the Via Francigena Toscana site, Gronze or OpenStreetMap) but could not be confirmed on their own website. Donation-based pilgrim hostels (donativo) usually take no bookings and open in the afternoon; private and religious hostels, B&Bs and hotels can be booked. Several hostels close from about November to March, and small places such as Ponte d'Arbia, Radicofani and Sutri have few beds: book ahead in spring and autumn.
Help and services on this stage
Emergency: call 112 (free from any phone). Medical emergency: 118. Emergency & health guide
Nearest hospital
- Ospedale San Luca, Lucca (Pronto Soccorso) · Lucca · 24/7 emergency
+39 0583 9701 · Map
On or near the trail
- Pharmacies: Lucca
- ATMs: Lucca
- Shops: Lucca
- Bus stops: Lucca, Altopascio
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
Walk Lucca to Altopascio with Outest
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.