An itinerary that will immerse you into Lucca's sumptuous medieval, Renaissance and Baroque history.
Type of bike: Gravel
Duration: Day trip
Departure from: Villa Bernardini, via del Cimitero di Vicopelago 573/a, 5 Lucca
Arrival at: Porta Fiorentina Montecarlo Lucca, via Carmignani 25, Montecarlo
Stage 1 - Villa Bernardini
Piana di Lucca boasts around one hundred and fifty villas, including large and small ones that belonged to wealthy merchants and were also home to important historical figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte's family.
The tour begins at Villa Bernardini in Vicopelago, a hamlet of Lucca not far from the city. This sumptuous villa, which once belonged to the powerful Bernardini family of Lucca, has now become a house museum and is well worth a visit, as it has preserved its original furnishings.
Stage 2 - Villa Reale in Marlia
We continue towards the centre of Lucca and take the Serchio cycle path to Ponte a Moriano. We leave the plain to explore the hills of Lucca, rich in history and tradition in a charming rural setting, enriched by luxurious historic residences. The first we come across is Villa Reale di Marlia, also known as the "imperial castle", having been the residence of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, Napoleon's sister.
Stage 3 – “Le 3 signore" ("The 3 ladies")
We continue along narrow, little-travelled roads, quickly passing Villa Massarosa, Villa Mansi and Villa Torrigiani, the latter being one of the most luxurious and picturesque in the area.
Stage 4 - Villa Garzoni
The excursion continues to Collodi, the town of Pinocchio, with a visit to the Garzoni Historic Garden and ends in the Municipality of Montecarlo in front of the medieval fortress, a very important place in the history of Lucca where the Florentines were driven out of Lucca in the 14th century.
It is possible to return to Lucca along the Wine and Oil Route, which passes through Turchetto, Porcari and Capannori before reaching the walls of the capital.
The return journey to Lucca from Montecarlo is a long 15 km through the plain, to be added to the Via delle Ville itinerary.
Please note
The return journey from Montecarlo to Lucca is 15 km long and flat, to be added to Via delle Ville itinerary.
Physical effort: medium
Technical difficulty: medium
Length: 45 km
Difference in altitude on ascent: 800 m
Difference in altitude on descent: 700 m
Maximum altitude: 340 m
Dirt road surface: 10%.
Paved road surface: 90
Recommended period: all year round