Via Francesca from Porretta to Sambuca

A medieval path in the heart of the Apennines

The Via Francesca della Sambuca is one of the most fascinating historical routes in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. It was a diverticulum, or a secondary branch of the Via Francigena: pilgrims would take this route to leave the main path and reach Pistoia, where the precious relic of the Apostle Saint James was kept. The road connected Bologna to Pistoia, following the Limentra valley on the Tuscan side, and traced ancient paths already used in Etruscan and Roman times.

The excursion from Porretta to Sambuca

This event, organized by the Municipality of Sambuca Pistoiese, is a guided hike that retraces the Apennine section of the path, from the Porretta Terme area to the village of Sambuca Pistoiese. It is a challenging but incredibly beautiful walk that takes place entirely in a mountain environment along the ancient pilgrimage route. The trail winds through chestnut forests, crosses bridges and mills, and touches upon ancient villages perched on the slopes of the Pistoia mountains.

What to see along the way

• Sambuca Castle: built in 1055 by the Bishop of Pistoia at the center of his fiefdom, in a dominant and impregnable position over the Limentra valley.
• The village of Sambuca Pistoiese: an ancient core perched on a hill, the first significant settlement on the Tuscan stretch.
• Spedaletto: the ancient Pratum Episcopi, home to a hospice documented as early as 1090 in a bull by Pope Urban II, a place of shelter, defense, and care for pilgrims.
• The Limentra Valley: a panoramic and wild stretch among the most evocative in the Apennines.

Who is it for?

This is a hiking (E) level excursion, with varied terrain and significant elevation changes: it is not recommended for beginners and requires decent physical fitness, appropriate clothing, and technical trekking footwear. The presence of an expert local guide allows you to interpret the landscape through its history, from the naturalistic aspects of the chestnut groves to the medieval testimonies of the pilgrimage towards Saint James.

An appointment in the territory of Sambuca Pistoiese

The initiative is part of the promotional activities of the Municipality of Sambuca Pistoiese, in the province of Pistoia, in the heart of the Pistoia mountains in Tuscany. Walking the Via Francesca today means rediscovering a route that has united Tuscany and Emilia for centuries, amidst spirituality, nature, and historical memory.