DAY 60 - LUCCA to GALLENO - 19 June 2026

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After an early breakfast, these 'lazy pilgrims' left just before 7am, in order to avoid walking too much in the heat. The first part of the walk was through built up areas, but there was mostly a footpath for us to walk on.  There were interesting things on the way,  such as our first open sunflowers and an area of tables and chairs all set up for a festival of well-being. Lots of people were out and about: exercising,  putting out the rubbish,  working in their gardens, sitting on their verandahs. Everyone gave us a friendly wave or 'buongiorno.'

In Porcari we stopped for a second breakfast and refilled our water bottles at a fountain in the park. A stage of this year's Giro D'Italia (bike race) had started there a month ago, and the pink bunting was still up.

An off-road path took us to the Hospitale San Pietro, where we were warmly greeted by Dania and Anita, volunteers at the pilgrim hostel.  They gave us two stamps for our pilgrim credentials and confirmed the lack of pilgrims this year. While we were chatting to them,  a pilgrim walked in from the other direction. She was booked to stay there that night.

A little further on, we met two young Italians who were walking the VF in reverse,  going all the way to Santiago.

At Altopascio we stopped for an early lunch and water break, afterwards wandering through some piazzas to see the old pilgrim infrastructure.  The Via Francigena was much bigger in the middle ages. 

We left Altopascio on the asphalt but soon turned onto a dirt track.  We met yet another pilgrim coming the other way.  He said he was going as far as Massa and would resume in September,  when the weather was cooler.

The Via passed through some shaded areas and we caught up with two French pilgrims,  who had started in Lucca and were doing short stages.  We will probably see them over the next few days.

The last part of today's walk was mostly through shady forest.  Our accommodation gave us early check-in and we were resting in our room by 2pm.

Leaving Lucca this morning
On the Via Francigena between Lucca and Porcari
Haven't had many of these shadow shots this trip . . . 
A month after Porcari hosted the start of a stage of the Giro d'Italia, the town is still festooned in pink
Morning coffee stop in Porcari 
After Porcari, the Via Francigena went off-road for a bit
Via Francigena on from Porcari 
Via Francigena even further on from Porcari 
 
Hospitale San Pietro di Badia Pozzeveri 
Altopascio 
A bit more of Altopascio 
A Via Francigena signboard
On from Altopascio 
A scrubby section of the Via Francigena
A welcome patch of shade as we approached Galleno 
Umbrella tree
Approaching Galleno - probably a statue of a famous local cricketer
Entering Galleno 
A bit warm when we arrived in Galleno this afternoon
Bits and pieces 
Some flowers and a rabbit
Birds 
Day 60 - Map

Day:                               60
Distance:                      25.12 km
Walking time:               4 hrs 59 mins
Elevation gain:             99 metres
Cumulative distance:  1217.12 km

Comments

  1. Anonymous19 June 2026 at 23:00

    25km in the heat. That’s an impressive effort hope you getting lots of hydration.

    Today’s birds: Eurasian Magpie, Yellow-legged Gull, probably Hooded Crow but could be Eurasian Jakdaw

    ReplyDelete
  2. Barkers20 June 2026 at 06:19

    Oh yes, we carry lots but top up at every fountain, frequent on this section of our trip. Thanks for the bird id!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous20 June 2026 at 07:38

    Grazie della vostra visita! Siamo state felici di fare la vostra conoscenza! Buon Cammino!!! ❤️ Dania

    ReplyDelete
  4. Barkers21 June 2026 at 06:02

    Grazie per tutto! Era fantastico a fermare e chiacchiere con voi un po'.

    ReplyDelete

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