In 994, Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, traveled on foot from Canterbury to Rome in 97 stages, covering some 3,000 km.
The route crosses five countries, 16 regions, and over 600 municipalities, passing from plains to hills and even mountainous passes. Each stage offers the opportunity to discover the history and traditions of the towns along the way.
During the Crusades, the Via Francigena became the path for pilgrims heading to the Holy Land and for those traveling to Santiago de Compostela, another sacred destination for Christianity.
Flowing with people, ideas, and commerce, the Via Francigena played a key role in economic development and in fostering the relationships that led to Europe’s cultural unity between the 11th and 12th centuries. Declared a “European Cultural Route” in 1994 by the Council of Europe, alongside the Camino de Santiago, the Via Francigena symbolizes a barrier-free Europe, united in valuing its diverse cultural, artistic, and scenic heritage.
Historically, the city of Lucca, due to its strategic position, was a central point for routes connecting Florence, Parma, the Po Valley, Luni, and Pisa. Its location along the Via Francigena significantly contributed to trade, urban growth, and cultural development. Today, Lucca—a jewel of art and culture, rich in ancient atmospheres—welcomes pilgrims with the same centuries-old hospitality, offering refreshment for both body and spirit.
Arriving in Lucca from Camaiore rewards walkers for the day’s efforts. After passing the River Park, within a few hundred meters, the imposing Renaissance walls of Lucca appear, and through Porta Santa Maria, one enters the city.
From here begins a true journey of devotion: the Basilica of San Frediano with its magnificent mosaic on the façade; the Church of San Michele in Foro, with its Romanesque Lucchese façade crowned by the imposing statue of the Archangel; the Church of Santa Giulia; and, in the adjacent Altopascio alley, the former Lucca seat of the “Tau” knights, a monastic-knightly order that from the 11th century provided aid, hospitality, and protection to pilgrims.
Finally, there is the Cathedral of San Martino, home to the wooden statue of the Holy Face and featuring a mysterious “labyrinth” relief carved into a pillar, full of symbolic meanings.
Leaving the city, travelers proceed east from Piazza San Michele, passing through the medieval Porta San Gervasio e Protasio and the neoclassical Porta Elisa of the current city walls.
Just outside the walls, before continuing to Altopascio, a visit to the Sanctuary of Santa Gemma, Lucca’s beloved saint, is a must. From here, the Via Francigena continues, passing through churches and ancient villages in the neighboring municipalities of Capannori, Porcari, Montecarlo, and Altopascio.
Traveling slowly, the modern pilgrim can grasp the soul of the places, gradually discovering this Lucchese stretch of an itinerary rich in faith, history, legends, and traditions. They can encounter grand monuments and small curiosities, truly “walking to learn” and enriching their cultural heritage.
The Credential is the document certifying that the holder is undertaking a pilgrimage to a sacred site. It acts as a “pilgrim’s ID card” throughout the journey, proving and commemorating the pilgrimage. It guarantees authenticity, identifies the pilgrim, allows access to facilities hosting pilgrims, and enables certification of the completed pilgrimage by the competent religious authority (available at the Cathedral of San Martino Museum and Tourist Center).
