Lucca is a small town in northwestern Tuscany with Renaissance-era city walls that remain entirely intact. Just north of Pisa, it’s nearly equidistant from the Tyrrhenian seaside and the peaks of the Apuan Alps.
Introduced to pro cycling by World Tour riders and Tour de France legends, Lucca has a rich and storied past. Its pro-athlete headcount has dropped but the vibrant local community of recreational and amateur riders is ever-present.
Its terrain and typical Mediterranean climate encourage an outdoor lifestyle. The summers, from mid-June to the end of August, are hot (up to 38 degrees Celsius), and the winters are mild, with periods of rain. Spring and autumn are lovely in Lucca but keep in mind that the best way to avoid the rain is by visiting in the heat of the summer.
The Lay of Lucca’s Lands
The full 360-degree radius beyond the 4.4 km original city wall is a two-wheeled wonder. From Aqueduct-lined bike paths and flat plains to rolling hills and alpine climbs, cycling in Lucca guarantees something special, including for you.
There are as many roads as there are remarkable Italian wines. I’ve rolled up my sleeves and ridden nearly every one (I’ll do anything for a worthy cause). Ascents are decidedly the most picturesque, so allow me to lay out what cycling in Lucca has to offer.
First things first: Climbs around Lucca are like outfits. Choose one based on your mood, your schedule, and the occasion. There’s no hierarchy in paradise, so take the numbers with levity. Here are ten (of many) to get your wheels turning.
10. Fiano
5 kilometers, average 5.5%
A local treasure, Fiano is the good ol’ faithful of Lucca cycling. Being 12 km away and easily reached doesn’t detract from its fascination, though. Similar to a charm bracelet, Fiano’s only complete with accessories like Passo Lucchese, Passo Sella or Fondagno.
9. Aquilea
2.9 kilometers, average 6.5%
8. Monte Serra
8.4 kilometers, average 7%
This mountain is Pisa’s pride and joy. It’s their only mountain, after all, and with an ancient history of animosity, they’ll never let you presume it belongs to the Lucchesi. It can be “mounted” as the Italians say three ways to the same summit: Buti, Calci, and Sant’Andrea di Compito. All three merit exploration, but note that Sant’Andrea is the longest, hardest, and closest to Lucca. The view from Calci of Pisa’s sprawl, the Tyrrhenian Sea and even the Leaning Tower on a clear day should help transcend your suffering.
7. Matraia
3.2 kilometers, average 6.6%
6. San Baronto
3.9 kilometers, average 7.2%
Consider San Baronto a stairway to heaven where bicycles coast on clouds and cars and motorcycles are prohibited. And where one can ride all day without any threat of crisi di fame (crises of hunger). If not heaven, then surely enlightenment. San Baronto raises you to the ridge where Leonardo da Vinci conceived the Mona Lisa. More accurately, it’s where Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452. Remember to take a selfie in appreciation of cultural, societal and creative advancements during the Renaissance (preferably with a stick).
5. Cappella
4.7 kilometers, average 6.5%
A stone’s throw from Lucca, Cappella is Via Michele Rosi on Friday and Saturday nights. That is, where the entire twenty-something population of Lucca gathers. If you haven’t already left it all out on the road, then Cappella is your final chance for redemption before your afternoon engagements. This is exactly the tactic of the Lucchesi cyclists on weekends between 11 am and 1 pm. A good final effort on Cappella will merit an entire afternoon lazing semi-conscious at the Versilian seaside.
4. Passo Sella from Fabbriche di Vallico
7.7 kilometers, average 6%
Sella is saddle in Italian and, to me, it’s the closest link from Lucca to the Garfagnana Valley. The Lucchese side is steeper with a gradual descent through Fabbriche di Vallico (shown) where I hear they’re selling houses for a euro. At the top, there’s an option to take a slightly longer route or a shortcut. Opt for the longer route; it’s well worth it. Also, take my free advice and spend your euro on a cappuccino instead of these houses.
3. Capezzano
5 kilometers, average 6.6%
Growing up in North America, watching TGIF programming while eating Doritos, I believe to have understood that the town of Pietrasanta is a highly cultured place. Home to painters and sculptors, Pietrasanta proudly displays the fruits of their labor, and the ring road with its Capezzano and Caprilia climbs as their most prized possessions. Take in the statues, the cathedral, and maybe also a panino from the piazza before zig-zagging up the hillside, where you’ll see all of Pietrasanta from above and the Tyrrhenian Sea on the horizon.
2. Pitoro
6.5 kilometers, average 5.1%
The first climb I did in Italy that also happened to steal my heart. Like Fiano, it’s a local climb that can be stacked with other climbs like you’d construct a LEGO castle. It’s an essential that overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea within 30 minutes from Lucca. You’ll have a stracciatella-fuelled Strava empire in no time.
1. Vergemoli
2.9 kilometers, average 6.8%
This little piece of paradise is accessible via Passo Sella or Garfagnana. The road takes you around the Pania della Croce, Panie being a series of peaks in the Apuan Alps and Croce trumps them all. It’s a jewel. If you can dedicate a day to Vergemoli, don’t pass it up. Oh, and stop for lunch in Barga and load up on pasta—because you’ll burn through kilojoules at the rate Juan Pelota did EPO.
Sold on Cycling in Lucca?
Get a head start with a self-guided 47-kilometer route through Lucca’s most scenic landscapes. Or hire the fine company of a qualified and skilled Top Guide. Leisurely or epic, my job is to make cycling in Lucca your fondest memory of Italy (guided or self-guided).
Navigate our curated routes across Tuscany — for free
But Wait, There’s More (than Lucca, Italy)!
Lucca is the cycling home base in Tuscany that makes human hearts sing. Garfagnana, the Cinque Terre, Florence, Chianti and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are at most a two-hour drive. And if you stay inside or near Lucca’s uber livable historic center, you’re better off without a rental car.
The train station is a stone’s throw from the wall (tickets available on the Trenitalia website and app). As for airports, Pisa’s Galileo Galilei is just 33 km away and Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci is 70 km away. Should you plan to sink hours into the bike (I don’t judge), you’ll be pleased to know that Lucca also offers a host of things to do for non-cyclists. 😉
Just rode the Passo Sella today. Started climbing from Via dei Norchini between Vallone and Valpromaro and passed trough Pescaglia on my way to the top. Lots of 8-10 % climbs on the way up. However in Pascoso after turning right at the restaurant the climb really picks up. I hit a section with 17 % on the way up. The descent through Fabbriche di Vergemoli is nice.
Monte Sera or Pizzorne is next I think.
Jakob — yes, lots of climbing. We call Via dei Norchini “Gombitelli.” You took the longer route I’m referring to above but there’s an easier shortcut through Focchia. Keep up the good work!
Ciao,
I am currently in Lucca and I would be really happy if you could give me an advice for a nice cycling round on the hills where there are not many cars (aprox. 50-70km).
Kind regards
Francesco
Francesco—if you click over to my Tuscany Route Collection, the ride of your dreams will magically appear in your inbox!
Hi Alison,
I’m in Lucca for a couple of days and would love to try your super-scenic Lucca hills ride!
I haven’t ridden any climbs around Lucca at this stage.
Kind regards,
Pat
Get out and there and after it, Pat!
November in Tuscany and a Saturday afternoon bathed in sunshine before the rain came last week. Still 17 degrees at the bottom, perfect conditions.
Close to Pescia with just a couple of hours of sunlight after arriving and unpacking the bike, so took a chance at getting up Vellano. A beautiful climb, always very fair and a pretty constant 6% all the way up. The town is omnipresent after just a KM or so, and is breathtaking. The false flat when you reach Vellano gives a little respite before climbing again through silent forests giving you glimpses of the valley below. It takes about 45 minutes to tap it out, but it’s a joy.
When you get to the very top you’ve a 10km rolling section with 4 descents to choose from to get you down to Montecatini Terme, I choose one (the third) with an amazing surface for a couple of KM’s before it got a little bit ‘Italian’ with a few cracks but was still a joy. At the bottom a quick circle of Montecatini Alto and back home.
The Vellano climb will become a firm favourite over the next few years for sure.
A little added note that sometimes small is beautiful, the weather didn’t hold and the long flat straights east of Lucca in the rain were a little stressful, but the Montecarlo climb at just 3k long was a delight on a rainy day through vineyards to a beautiful village. Worth seeking out.
Thanks for the Vellano recommendation…..
Thanks for eloquently sharing your experience of Vellano. How nice it is to see a road or a place for the first time!
Without knowing it our stolen week also took in San Baronto from Vinci. This has to be the best way up, as I don’t think I saw a car once I’d climbed above Leonardo’s home town (he was born out of town up the road, but let’s not play around with a legend). One of the key’s to this ride is finding the best approach from the flatlands, which can be a little busy but once off the main roads (I started in Buggiano, by Montecatini Terme) it was a delight of rolling vineyards and sleepy towns.
This climb is pure joy, it’s not hard, not a huge test, but it is a attack on the visual senses with the autumnal colours mixing with the afternoon sunshine it was an rusty orange overload. Some Neoclassical and even a couple of Palladiun Villa’s to enjoy in some delightful slope hugging villages. The view back down from 300m to the pan flat basin a stunner.
I took the descent to Lamporecchio which felt more of a main road (so maybe not climb this way) which is a fast one for those braver than me. Would definitely do again and will work on finding a better route to and from this delightful test.
Andrew,
The hills and flat lands west of Montalbano are undoubtedly metropolitan but there are ways to navigate those areas with very little traffic. We have a route from Lucca that’s part of our paid content (Lucca Region & Ride Guide). It took some time to master but I think I’ve found the one!
Have fun and keep up with your astute observations!
Alison
Great guide for cycling enthusiasts! Lucca’s climbs offer a mix of scenic beauty and challenging ascents, making it a fantastic destination for riders of all levels. The descriptions and route details are really helpful—maybe adding difficulty ratings or insider tips on the best times to ride would make it even more useful. Looking forward to exploring these climbs!
Thanks for the feedback, Marsha. 🙂
Lucca sounds like an absolute paradise for cycling enthusiasts! The combination of scenic climbs, historic charm, and stunning landscapes must make for an unforgettable ride. Exploring these must-see climbs would be a dream come true for anyone looking to challenge themselves while soaking in the beauty of Tuscany. Can’t wait to add Lucca to my cycling bucket list!
Thank you for gracing our blog with your enthusiasm and positivity, Tracy! Your energy will help us post new photos before you tick Lucca off your bucket list. 🙂