Way of San Jacopo

An itinerary of faith, landscape, and beauty from Florence to Lucca

The itinerary follows one of the oldest routes in central Italy, already frequented for centuries by travelers and pilgrims on their way to Rome or Santiago de Compostela. It is, in fact, a "Jacobean" route because in Pistoia, central stage of the route, A relic of the apostle James the Greater has been kept in the cathedral of San Zeno since 1145 (Jacopo), the only one recognized by the Church outside of Santiago. For this reason, Pistoia is also called the "Italian Santiago."

In the Lucca Plain: nature, art, and spirituality

Once past the Pesciatino hills, the Camino enters the Piana di Lucca, a gentle and bright territory, dotted with ancient churches, historic gardens and monumental villas. You cross Collodi, a town linked to the fairy tale of Pinocchio, and villages rich in rural charm.

The first sacred place you come across is the Romanesque Parish Church of San Gennaro, which houses within it a precious statue of the Announcing Angel, attributed to the young hand of Leonardo da Vinci. Next to the parish church stands the sixteenth-century Boccella Palace, while the journey continues between the parish churches of St. Peter in Petrognano, Sanctuary of Santa Maria Assunta in Tofori, Sant'Andrea in Caprile , Parish Church of San Lorenzo in Segromigno in Monte.

The itinerary then winds through the orderly landscapes of the Lucca countryside, between dry stone walls, vineyards, olive groves and the gardens of historic villas including Villa Mazzarosa, Villa Mansi e Bishop's Villa, harmoniously inserted into the landscape.

Arriving in Lucca: From the Acquacalda River to Porta San Jacopo

Approaching Lucca, you cross Lammari, where they are located church of San Cristoforo And that of San JacopoFrom here the path continues towards San Cassiano a Vico, where the church of the same name is located, dating back to the early Middle Ages (8th century), which has been remodeled several times until it assumed its current elegant 18th-century appearance.

The next stop is the location Hot water, where the path runs alongside the ancient artificial canal, derived from the Serchio River. This waterway has played a fundamental role in Lucca's economy over the centuries, powering mills, olive presses, paper mills, and factories. The imposing neo-Gothic buildings that still overlook the canal bear witness to a rich industrial past and today fascinate industrial archaeology enthusiasts.

The canal then enters the city, transforming into the characteristic "Ditch", which crosses the historic center along the street of the same name, one of the most evocative and recognizable in Lucca.

The entrance to Lucca and the final destination

The Way of St. James enters Lucca from Porta San Jacopo, a highly symbolic point for pilgrims: here stood the ancient Church of San Jacopo alla Tomba, built on the remains of a necropolis. The church was demolished in the Napoleonic era to make way for a paper mill that could harness the energy of the canal's water, but the site preserves its memory intact.

From here the traveler can choose different routes to reach the spiritual heart of the city:

• Continuing along the Via dei Borghi, you cross Porta Santa Maria, you come across a small tabernacle with an image of the apostle James and finally you arrive at the Cathedral of San Martino.
• Following the path of the Fosso, instead, you cross the suggestive Porta San Gervasio and Protasio, one of the ancient medieval gates of the city, and continue through squares and alleys until reaching Piazza San Giovanni, seat of the ancient Church of Saints John and Reparata, the first cathedral of Lucca.

The final goal is the Cathedral of San Martino, which houses one of the most important medieval Christian relics: the Holy Face of Lucca, a wooden statue venerated throughout Europe and a profound symbol of Lucca's spirituality. The cathedral is also a treasure trove of art with works by Tintoretto, Ghilandaio, Brother Bartolomeo, Civilians, Jacopo della Quercia and many others.

A crossroads of paths

In Lucca the Way of San Jacopo it is intertwined with other important historical-religious itineraries:

• la Via Francigena, the great European journey from Canterbury to Rome,
• la Matilda's Way of the Holy Face, which goes up the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines,
• and Way of Saint Julia, which connects Brescia and Livorno through a dense network of parish churches and abbeys.

A journey to be experienced at a slow pace, amid ancient landscapes, spirituality, and wonder.