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CAMINO WALKING
Type :
Level :
Duration :
3 days
period:
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Code:
ITSM351
Weekend on Via Francigena between Pontremoli and Aulla - Italy
3 days, price from
  € 180

Ready to explore the lesser-known side of Tuscany?.

Your walk starts from Pontremoli, in the heart of the Lunigiana, the land of the Moon, a very green land dotted with fine castles and home of the mysterious “Stele statues”. On your way, the medieval village of Filetto - so proud of its ancient heritage to celebrate it every year with a very popular festival - before reaching Aulla and its imposing fortress.

 Testaroli al Pesto, from Pontremoli, and local rice cakes, among many others.

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The tips of SloWays:

  •  Learn more about the mystery of the Stele Statues, visiting the museum of Pontremoli;
  • Walk surrounded by nature in wild Lunigiana;
  • Go back to the Middle Age by visiting the Fortezza della Brunella, in Aulla.

Route

Day 1   Pontremoli
 

Your trip starts from Pontremoli, a gem of a village in the heart of mysterious Lunigiana, in the Northern part of Tuscany. Stroll through the tower-houses of the city centre, admire warriors and Goddesses made of stone in the Stele Statues museum - the imposing castle perched at the top of the village, guarding the mystery of these ancient locals. 

If you like the magic of written word, sit on the benches of the old town centre and try to guess the author of the literary quotations that they are decorated with. Or just enjoy a few pages of a book and write the first page of your travelogue. 

To celebrate the beginning of your journey, nothing better than a hearty portion of Testaroli - the local pasta, made in a very unique and traditional way - served with almond pesto, or a very thick slice of delicious "torta d'erbi", a salty pie filled with wild herbs.

Day 2   From Pontremoli to Filetto, 17 km
 

Ready to set off? In your first day you're walking in a beautiful scenery, where lush green forests alternate with small Medieval hamlets. The tower-houses in Ponticello, the ancient hospital of Saint Jacob in Filattiera - above all, the Pieve di Sorano, which treasured the statues of ancient Celtic warriors for centuries. 

Villafranca is a Medieval hamlet of great beauty: you can walk up the hill to the walled village of Malgrate and its castle, or glimpse the ruins of the ancient castle of Malnido - home to the rich Malaspina family - among the trees. 

The day is filled with Medieval sceneries, right to the last step: today's destination is Filetto, hosting a yearly Medieval festival that attracts people from all over the region

Day 3   From Filetto to Aulla, 15 km
 

From Filetto you walk right into a thick and fragrant forest, following portions of an ancient Roman road - a fairytale scenery on the way to the Terrarossa Castle, where one would not be surprised to see knights and dragons.

The last part of the itinerary follows the tracks of an abandoned railway, now converted in a walking and cycle path. 

If you are passionate about ancient history, don't miss the museum of San Caprasio Abbey, housing archaeological remains from the Medieval period, nor a stroll along the ancient walls of the Brunella fortress. 

Feeling peckish? Go for the local "focaccette" - fragrant and warm, rigorously served with local cold cuts and cheese. 

If you want some more time to visit Aulla, it is possible to add an extra night in Aulla (not included in the price displayed here)

Accommodation

 Two nights in double room in *** hotels with breakfast

Hotel Napoleon Pontremoli
Hotel Napoleon - Pontremoli

Hotetel Napoleon*** is centrally located in Pontremoli. Rooms are cozy, clean and furnished in a vintage style. These offer free Wifi, TV, direct dial telephone, air conditioning and some rooms have a balcony. 

hotelnapoleon.net

B&B Il Biancospino Filetto
B&B Il Biancospino - Filetto

B&B Il Biancospino is located in the little medieval village of Filetto, in two ancient buildings of stone in Piazza Immacolata and the other in Borgo di Mezzo. Very appreciate for serenity, this B&B offers rustic rooms, clean and spacious. Breakfast is rich with fruits and brioches. 

Hotel Demy Aulla
Hotel Demy - Aulla

Hotel Demy*** is located in a strategic position for visiting Cinque Terre. Rooms are basic and clean, but old-faschioned and neglected. WiFi isn't working properly. Breakfast is normal.

www.demyhotel.it 

Practical info

From any airport, reach the closest railway station, from where you can get to Pontremoli by train. Trains are direct from Pisa, whereas you need to change if travelling from Florence, Bologna, Genova and Milano.

On departure from Aulla, you can easily get to Pisa and Florence by direct train. Trains to Genova, Bologna and Milano are not direct.

Check train timetables on www.trenitalia.com.

Thanks to our special APP, you will be able to follow the track of the whole trip on your mobile phone, with no need for internet. GPS tracks are available on request.

Included

What is included

What is not included 

Optional Services