Excursion à vélo d’une journée de Viareggio à Lucques

From beach vibes to walled-city charm, this is a sweet, mostly flat 41 km spin from Viareggio to Lucca. Roll out along Viareggio’s Liberty‑style seafront—home of Italy’s famous Carnival—then angle toward Torre del Lago and the reeds of Lake Massaciuccoli, where Puccini composed with the marshes as his backdrop.

Pick up quiet backroads and cycleways toward the Serchio river; the levee paths are mellow and scenic. Expect a mix of surfaces: plenty of smooth tarmac but also some gravel and unpaved stretches—great on 32 mm tires or wider, especially after rain. Elevation is minimal (about 115 m of total climb), so this is more about views than vo2.

Aim for Nozzano or Ripafratta for a coffee stop, then cruise into Lucca. The payoff? Lucca’s perfectly preserved Renaissance walls—yes, you can ride on top of them—and a maze of medieval lanes, towers, and cafés. Fun fact: Lucca is Puccini’s birthplace, so you’ve just bridged his world from coast to city. Bring lights for tunnels/underpasses and take it easy on the gravel.