Route Overview
The "Tuscany section" isn't an officially defined segment, but most walkers use it to mean the route from Lucca (or sometimes Siena) to Rome — roughly 350–450 km depending on your start point.
Lucca → Rome
~450 km · 20–26 days
The full Tuscany experience plus all of Lazio. Takes you through San Miniato, San Gimignano, Siena, the Crete Senesi, the Val d'Orcia and the volcanic Lazio landscape before Rome. The best balance of duration and coverage.
Siena → Rome
~220 km · 12–15 days
The shorter option — perfect for a two-week trip. Skips northern Tuscany but includes the iconic Crete Senesi landscape south of Siena, the Val d'Orcia, Lake Bolsena and a dramatic approach to Rome.
Getting There from the UK
To Lucca: Fly to Pisa (Ryanair, easyJet from London, Manchester, Edinburgh — often under £50). Pisa airport is 20 km from Lucca; a direct train takes 30 minutes (€4). Lucca is a beautiful city — arrive the evening before your first walking day.
To Siena: Fly to Florence (Pisa also works). Train or bus from Florence to Siena takes about 1h 20min. Siena has excellent connections and is an ideal city to spend a rest day before you start.
Return from Rome: Rome Fiumicino airport is well-served from the UK (Ryanair, British Airways, easyJet). The Leonardo Express train from Roma Termini to Fiumicino takes 32 minutes (€14). Book your return flight a few days after your planned arrival in case you need extra time.
Key Stages: Lucca to Rome
| Stage | From → To | Distance | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucca → Altopascio | 18 km | Leaving Lucca's city walls |
| 2 | Altopascio → San Miniato | 28 km | San Miniato hilltop town |
| 3 | San Miniato → Gambassi Terme | 22 km | Rolling Tuscan hills begin |
| 4 | Gambassi → San Gimignano | 14 km | San Gimignano towers |
| 5 | San Gimignano → Colle di Val d'Elsa | 23 km | Crystal glass town |
| 6 | Colle → Monteriggioni | 13 km | Walled circular town |
| 7 | Monteriggioni → Siena | 19 km | Arriving at Piazza del Campo |
| — | Siena rest day | — | Cathedral, Piazza, food |
| 8 | Siena → Ponte d'Arbia | 25 km | Into the Crete Senesi |
| 9 | Ponte d'Arbia → San Quirico d'Orcia | 26 km | Cypress avenues, iconic views |
| 10 | San Quirico → Radicofani | 25 km | Bagno Vignoni thermal baths |
| 11 | Radicofani → Acquapendente | 29 km | Entering Lazio |
| 12 | Acquapendente → Bolsena | 22 km | Lago di Bolsena |
| 13 | Bolsena → Viterbo | 30 km | Medieval papal city |
| 14 | Viterbo → Vetralla | 19 km | Via Cassia Roman road |
| 15 | Vetralla → Sutri | 22 km | Etruscan amphitheatre |
| 16 | Sutri → La Storta | 32 km | Approaching Rome |
| 17 | La Storta → Rome | 18 km | St Peter's Square 🕍 |
Accommodation
Tuscany has the best pilgrim infrastructure on the whole route. The combination of a good ospitali network and abundant agriturismos makes it uniquely easy to walk affordably.
- Ospitali: Available in most towns — free or €5–15. Require a stamped Credenziale. Fill up in peak season (May–June, September) by early afternoon.
- Agriturismos: Farm stays with outstanding food — €50–80/person full board in many cases. Book ahead. The best ones are booked weeks in advance in peak season.
- B&Bs: Plentiful in larger towns (San Gimignano, Siena, Viterbo). €40–80/night.
See the full accommodation guide for more detail.
Best Time to Walk
April–early June: The best window. Wildflowers, green hills, mild temperatures (18–25°C), long days. The Crete Senesi is at its most beautiful in May. Busiest month.
September–October: Harvest season. Cooler, fewer walkers, stunning autumn colours. Grape and olive harvests add atmosphere. Some ospitali close in late October.
Avoid July–August: Temperatures regularly exceed 35°C south of Siena. If you must walk in summer, start at 5–6am and stop by noon.
Costs
| Category | Budget | Moderate |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation/night | Free–€15 (ospitali) | €40–80 (B&B/agriturismo) |
| Food/day | €15–20 (supermarkets) | €25–40 (restaurants) |
| Flights to/from Italy | £60–120 return | £100–200 return |
| Lucca–Rome total (20 days) | ~£700–900 | ~£1,300–1,800 |