Day 75 Lucca to Altopascio – 14th August

Distance: 22.7 km – Elevation +60 m -60 m

Weather: Thunderstorms/rain/Sunny. Temperature: High 27 degrees

I had really enjoyed my time in Lucca and the Puccini Festival but today I start out on the final lap of this pilgrimage to Rome. There had been thunderstorms overnight and it was still raining when I left the Villa la Donga after a good breakfast and having said my farewells. This was the first rain I had seen since Ornans in France, 40 days ago! It was a 6 kilometre walk along a not too busy road to the centre of Lucca and I arrived just as the town was waking up. I sat and enjoyed a final Lucca coffee before continuing my journey to Altopascio. It was all road walking today passing through Capannori where I stopped for a short break and light lunch in the Il Rustichetto Restaurant – it calls itself “Restaurant of the Via Francigena”. From there the road passes through Porcan and Carbonata before arriving in Altopascio where I was staying in the Hotel Cavalieri del Tau. Today’s distance 25 kilometres.