Break up San Miniato to Gambassi Terme stage

[JaneM]

Hi all
Planning the Via Francigena Lucca to Rome next May (did Portuguese Camino this year) and looking forward to a quieter route. Prefer not to do more than 15-19 km as always like to leave time - and legs - to explore the towns. No buses or trains thou. San Miniato to Gambassi Terme is 24km and a bit much but breaking it in two, at say Agriturismo due Falcetti, leaves a very short stage into Gambassi. Just wondering if anyone has had the same problem, and maybe included a walk into Castelfiorentino. I have been unable to find reasonably priced accommodation in Castelfiorentino. Any advice appreciated

 

[Corned Beef]

Castelfiorentino would be an ideal place to stop. You are downhill from San Miniato to Castelfiorentino. And then there is a straight climb (800+ft) to Gambassi. Or you could take a bus from Castelfiorentino to Gambassi to complete that section.

May is sometime off so you might be able to find accomodation between now and April. The Terme in Gambassi Terme is worth a visit though it was closed when I passed through.

 

[JaneM]

Castelfiorentino would be an ideal place to stop. You are downhill from San Miniato to Castelfiorentino. And then there is a straight climb (800+ft) to Gambassi. Or you could take a bus from Castelfiorentino to Gambassi to complete that section.

May is sometime off so you might be able to find accomodation between now and April. The Terme in Gambassi Terme is worth a visit though it was closed when I passed through.

Thankyou much appreciated

 

[andycohn]

Hi all
Planning the Via Francigena Lucca to Rome next May (did Portuguese Camino this year) and looking forward to a quieter route. Prefer not to do more than 15-19 km as always like to leave time - and legs - to explore the towns. No buses or trains thou. San Miniato to Gambassi Terme is 24km and a bit much but breaking it in two, at say Agriturismo due Falcetti, leaves a very short stage into Gambassi. Just wondering if anyone has had the same problem, and maybe included a walk into Castelfiorentino. I have been unable to find reasonably priced accommodation in Castelfiorentino. Any advice appreciated

Not sure I agree with Corned Beef on this one. Castelfiorentino is a fair ways off the route, and it's 20 k from San Miniato, then 10 -14 k onward to Gambassi Terme, depending on how you go. (I use mapy.cz to figure out routes and distances).

Gronze.com, which now includes the Via Francigena, is probably your best source for accommodations, and it lists several places near Coiano, which would be less of a detour. I would check them out.

I agree that this can be a brutal stage. You'll be doing the final, relentlessly-uphill segment in the afternoon, and on a clear day, you'll have the sun beating down on you, right in your face. I was totally toast by the time we reached Gambassi Terme, in all senses of the word.

But if Castelfiorentino turns out to be your best option, it would, at least, break up the climb. And I highly recommend Ostello Sigeric on the approach to Gambassi Terme.