28 Massa to Pisa
78 m climbing
6h 19m elapsed
25, mostly sunny
63.12 km
4h 01m moving
58% off-road
The Via Francigena usually proceeds from Massa to Lucca via Caimore but for two reasons I wanted to see Pisa: 1) For the leaning tower and 2) For the airport in order to get back home. Having only 1 week a year makes the logistics of where to start and end an important consideration.
Massa to Pisa GPX file
To Pietrasanta
Pietrasanta is on the Via Francigena and there’s quite a few good things written about it so that was the first goal of the day. I took a route part urban and part off-road threading a trail around golf courses and along waterways.
Parts of the route this morning were very pretty.
And included this photo to show that often on this trip I’ve passed through semi-industrial areas. This is how the roadside feels quite often. The Via Francigena isn’t only pretty trails in the countryside.
Pietrasanta to Via Reggio
Coffee and thingy (I’ve not quite worked them out yet).
I stopped for a fantastic coffee and pastry in Pietrasanta, a very arty town. From there it was back down to the coast where it is a long promenade for many kilometres. I even missed out the supposed Russian enclave of Forte di Marmi with its giant yachts and luxury shopping.
The front at Marina di Pietrasanta
There’s a cycle path along most of the front.
The road along the front at Via Reggio was closed off for Carnival. Very elegant Art Deco buildings.
Via Reggio to Pisa
Best part of today was some proper off-road after Via Reggio where the urban sprawl of the Tuscan Riviera gives way to nature reserves and more agriculture towards Pisa.
Pisa
Instead of heading directly into Pisa along the busy roads I followed the embankments along the River Serchio.
Pisa was as expected: busy with tourists and a leaning tower.
Back to Copenhagen
Pisa Airport isn’t going to win many awards soon. It is very cramped and is having an especially hard time during the pandemic letting people in and out safely.
Its only got two things going for it… 1) it is extremely close to town (2 km perhaps) and 2) it has a comically titled Pismover rapid transport concept to cover that distance.
Waiting for the Pismover. Despite the ridiculous name / logo problem, it really is very convenient.
The Pismover is actually called the Pisamover but the design team for the logo didn’t do much testing.
