La Via dei Bovi

For my convenience I started from the historic center of Lucca where I work but you can just as well do it from the point of arrival where there is also ample parking. Leaving Lucca I headed towards Pontetetto and then continued on the road towards Pisa. After passing the Ozzeri ditch I turned right following the signs for Vicopelago, continuing until the junction for Pozzuolo, where I began the climb all shaded or almost shaded with gentle slopes.

From the village onwards things changed radically, although remaining always in the shade you struggle because of the increasing gradient that except for a few points of rifiato never lets up until Quattro Venti, although to be honest what I suffered most today was the constant presence of gnats fluttering around you. Arriving at Quattro Venti I ride a hundred meters of asphalt and then turn right on 00 and shortly thereafter arrive at the Croci di Vaccoli. The initial idea was to climb Moriglion di Penna but unfortunately I forgot the light and in order not to risk it I decide to descend immediately on Cai 114 or La Via dei Bovi.

The upper part is not well put together, there are a couple of plants to climb over and two others where you can pass under them even in the saddle by crouching. After this section the trail improves, and thank goodness because here comes the most fun and technical part with rocky passages that protages until the end of the descent becoming, however, much faster and smoother but with a bumpy bottom. To return to the way home I opted for an internal route to avoid the generally busy road to Pisa.