Way of Saint Julia
An evocative journey to be undertaken on foot, savoring the thrill of a 470-kilometer adventure in 25 stages from Livorno to Brescia, through Tuscany, Emilia, and Lombardy. A historical, spiritual, and naturalistic itinerary, from the sea to the mountains to the plains, it retraces the journey of the relics of Saint Julia from the island of Gorgona to Brescia at the behest of the Lombard king Desiderius and his wife Ansa in 762.
Along the roads and paths of the Cammino di Santa Giulia, you'll encounter ancient churches, Romanesque parish churches, evocative chapels, and imposing monasteries dedicated to the martyr, a tangible sign of the population's centuries-old devotion to the saint. The journey begins in Tuscany, in Livorno, and passes peacefully through the countryside and small towns until reaching the medieval villages of Monte Pisano.
From Buti, the descent begins from the mountain slopes and you enter the Lucca plain in a gentle landscape where history and art blend with the beauty of nature.
The route follows the Rio San Quirico, which flows from its mountain springs and passes through woods, green meadows, and pretty little bridges in the "Parole d'oro" area, before continuing along the path that runs alongside the 19th-century Nottolini Aqueduct, a monument in the countryside that extends all the way to the city of Lucca.
Once you leave Lucca, the most challenging route begins, proceeding towards the Apennine ridge.
Immersed in the greenery of the Serchio River Park, continue along the Puccini cycle and pedestrian path to Ponte a Moriano. A peaceful, flat route leads to the sumptuous Villa Reale di Marlia, nestled in 19 hectares of parkland with streams, ponds, groves, camellia-lined avenues, lemon groves, and a green theater carved from boxwood.
In the hilly landscape, among vineyards and olive groves, you can see the small church of San Quirico in Petroio.
The climb is challenging, but the view that opens up across the entire Lucca plain is worth the effort.
The last part of this Lucca stretch goes back up towards the Pizzorne plateau
An important road hub since Roman and early medieval times, it features the small church of SS.Crocifisso, built in 1662 to assist passing travelers. Every evening at sunset, the small bell in the bell tower rang to help travelers find their way in the fog and darkness.
Continuing to walk for about 2 kilometers along the gentle climb you arrive at the ancient parish church of San Bartolomeo, once connected to a hospital for the reception and hospitality of travelers, merchants and pilgrims, who from this mountain pass reached the Garfagnana, the Val di Lima and Emilia on foot or on horseback.
The Way of Saint Julia continues towards the Lima Valley and Garfagnana, before entering the Emilian region through San Pellegrino in Alpe, one of the highest passes and inhabited villages in the Apennines, which arose in the Middle Ages on these ancient pilgrimage routes.
