Between Portovenere and Sestri Levante

Footpaths between Portovenere and Sestri Levante
FOOTPATH 1/1 - PORTOVENERE – CAMPIGLIA
Difficulty: fair - KM 4.8 - 2h 15’
The path connects Portovenere to the town of Campiglia (400 metres above sea level) and begins from the famous square Bastreri. The first part is a steep staircase that becomes less difficult during the climb. The walk offers breathtaking panoramas over the Palmaria and Tino islands and all over the coast. The path continues towards a thick maquis until the town of Campiglia, whose entrance is distinguished by the tower of a windmill

FOOTPATH 1/2 - CAMPIGLIA - TELEGRAFO
Difficulty: low - KM 3.2 - 1h
This paths leaves from Campiglia and continues along a relatively flat land among wonderful cork oak trees.
The rest of the track is characterized by ups and downs until Telegrafo (513 metres above sea level)

FOOTPATH 1/3 - TELEGRAFO – LA CROCE
Difficulty: low - KM 3 - 1h
From Telegrafo col, beauty spot over the Gulf of La Spezia, reach following a flat path the Bramapane hill, where you can find the interesting ruins of a military fortress. Next stop is the pass of la Croce (637 metres above sea level), from where you may decide to continue westwards or to reach Riomaggiore with the FOOTPATH 01.

FOOTPATH 01 - LA CROCE - RIOMAGGIORE
Difficulty: medium - KM 2,5 - 2h about
The footpath starts with a steep descent in an unsurfaced road, the so-called “Sanctuaries path” that becomes a wide beaten earth track. The footpath continues among woods and vineyards and reaches the town of Riomaggiore that welcomes the guests with its famous castle.

The most famous path of the Cinque Terre begins from Riomaggiore.

LA VIA DELL’AMORE
KM 1 - 25 Minutes.
The famous “Via dell’Amore” (lovers’ street) is the best known track both for its beauty and for its approachability. It is also the first part of the renowned Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail).
The “Via dell’Amore” is really appreciated because it is not particularly difficult and overall for its unforgettable beauty especially during the sunset.
The “Via dell’Amore” leaves from the staircase located in the square of Riomaggiore railway station and it continues until Manarola along the coast on a flat track going deep into wonderful panoramas created by the Mediterranean vegetation.
As already said, the “Via dell’Amore” is the first part of the Blue Trail, that in the past was the access to the powder magazines used for the construction of the railway line Genoa-La Spezia. The “Via dell’Amore” is accessible also from the town of Vernazza with a path directly connected.



FOOTPATH 06 - MANAROLA – SELLA DI MONTE MARVEDE
Difficulty: fair - KM 3,7 - 2h 15’
The footpath 6 leaves from Manarola and goes up until the fork of Pì de Fesse: from here we find the starting point of two different footpaths that reunite after the “Sanctuaries path” Volastra-Telegrafo.

In that point the footpath 6 goes up towards the small abandoned town of Bovera and continues to reach the south-eastern con of Monte Marvede (666 metres above sea levels)

FOOTPATH 02 - MANAROLA – SELLA DI MONTE GALERA
Difficulty: medium - KM 3,8 - 2h 30’
The first part of the track coincides with the Footpath 06 until the fork of Pì de Fesse from where it leaves a steep staircase going through the vineyards. The staircase finishes into the “Sanctuaries path” among pines and chestnut trees: at this point the climb grows in order to reach finally the Costa Galera (729 metres above sea level), where the path reunites with the footpath 1.

FOOTPATH 2/2 - MANAROLA – CORNIGLIA
Difficulty: low - KM 1 - 1h
Start from Manarola railway station passing by the tunnel and reaching the Marina from where you can choose to climb through the old track or to walk along the seafront until Palando ramp. From here climb until you cross the Footpath 02 from where the track continues flat along the underneath beach of Corniglia. In the middle of the track there is an iron bridge reuniting the two parts of a landslide.
The path continues until the “Lardarina” staircase that leads to Corniglia.


FOOTPATH 2/3 - CORNIGLIA - VERNAZZA
Difficulty: low - KM 4 - 1h 30’
The path leaves from Corniglia and climbs through a large olive-yard until reaching a breathtaking beauty spot. The track crosses Guvano basin and goes up to the small town of Prevo (208 metres above sea level), where you can find a refreshment point. Here the descent to Vernazza begins; the first part is made by steps that lead to the town after crossing maquis rich in agaves and Indian figs. In the last part you will meet a medieval tower.

FOOTPATH 2/4 - VERNAZZA - MONTEROSSO
Difficulty: medium - KM 3 - 2h
The oath leaves from Vernazza and among vine- and olive-yards to Cravarla valley (track between 150 and 200 metres above sea level). It reaches Costa Linaro and the small valley of Fosso Mulinaro, where frequent fires dramatically changed the landscape.
The next valley, called “Acquapendente”, is an oasis with vegetables, lemon trees and grapevine growing on it. From where starts a steep staircase toward the town: here the footpath is divided into two parts: if you go to the right you will directly reach Piazza Garibaldi in the centre of the town, if you go to the left you will reach the rocks and the small beach.

FOOTPATH 09 MONTEROSSO - SOVIORE
Difficulty: low;
KM 2,5; 1h 30’
The footpath leaves from the town of Monterosso and goes up until reaching a crossing indicated by big iron cross. From here you can climb along a steep staircase until a small chapel (414 metres above sea level). The path continues for abut 50 metres until the Madonna di Soviore Sanctuary (470 metres above sea level), where a hostel is located. The Sanctuary is the most ancient in Liguria and it is particularly interesting because recent investigations discovered an older church, maybe dating back to the middle Ages, whose remains are visible through glasses on the pavement.

FOOTPATH 1/7 SOVIORE – S. ANTONIO
Difficulty: low;
KM 2; 45’
Leaving the Madonna di Soviore Sanctuary you continue along a paved road until Colla di Gritta. Reach the refreshing area of a restaurant and from there enter into a wood to go out from the western part overlooking the sea of Levanto. The footpath continues to reach the Mount Vé (or Focone), located 487 metres above sea level, from where you walk down through the col of S. Antonio al Mesco.

FOOTPATH 1/8 S. ANTONIO - LEVANTO
Difficulty: low;
KM 4; 2h
From the col of S. Antonio al Mesco walk along an octagonal signal-tower from where the descent towards Levanto begins.
By the Giada del Mesco the path continues the descent meeting Massola House, where in 1931 Guglielmo Marconi perfected his short-wave radio-telephony experiments between Levanto and Santa Margherita.
From here you will reach the eastern outskirts of Levanto from where, through a staircase you can arrive to the “Pietra” seafront

LEVANTO - BONASSOLA
Difficulty: low;
KM 2,4; 1h 30’
From the area of Vallesanta on the west side of Levanto climb through olive trees and pines until you reach the col of Scernio (183 metres above sea level): here the path continues to climb until you reach the hamlet of Poggio. From that very small town the path begins to go down and it arrives until the staircase of Maxinara Street from where the east footpath toward Bonassola begins.

BONASSOLA - FRAMURA
Difficulty: medium;
KM 4,5; 2h 30’
From Bonassola reach the street to the churchyard from where you find a path crossing the road you have to follow until a long slope paved with cement. From here reach the col of Carpeneggio (132 metres above sea level) from where, through an easy trail, you pass a sign indicating the town of Framura. Walk about 200 metres on the flat and go up through thick vegetation composed by pines and holm-oaks. Then reach the locality of Salice and after that continue towards a group of abandoned houses from where there are small hairpin bends leading to Rio Valle delle Lame. You reach first the hamlet of Anzo and then Ravecca and continuing for about 200 metres uphill you will arrive in Setta di Framura.

FRAMURA – DEIVA MARINA

Difficulty: low;
About KM 4,5; 2h 30’
Leaving Framura railway station you will arrive in ten minutes through a steep staircase in the hamlet of Anzo (76 metres above sea level), where it is visible an old sighting-tower. Continuing uphill you take the long staircase on the right leading to Ravecca from where you proceed until the third hamlet of Framura, Setta (152 metres above sea level). The trail continues on a paved street until a junction where you have to turn left in order to reach Deiva.
The descent is very steep and abrupt but it offers wonderful panoramas: during limpid days you can see, besides Deiva’s beach, the snow-covered peaks of the Alps.

DEIVA MARINA - MONEGLIA
Difficulty: medium;
About KM 4; 2h
Leaving from the old town of Deiva Marina reach the Square where the post office is located; proceeding along the road reach the locality “Castagnole” and continue boarding a vineyard; a little bit further there is a junction and continue to the right (trail mark: blue ball). The first part is an unsurfaced road that goes uphill very steep, until reaching the valley of Rio Posacqua and after that a homestead. Now the road becomes a mule-track curling along a magnificent olive-yard. From here climb until the highest point of the trail (318 metres above sea level), surpass the Rio Crocetta and reach a second prominent hump. Arrive in the town of Moneglia and continue along the carriageable road overlooking the gulf of Moneglia until you reach a large pedestrian street made of wide shallow steps leading to the town.

THE SURROUNDING OF DEIVA MARINA (Bracco mountain tour)
Difficulty: medium;
About KM 20; 8h
From Deiva Marina railway station walk along Corso Italia direction Motorway. At about three Km from the railway bridge you meet the camping Valdeiva; from here begin to climb crossing the village of Carmagnola and proceed northwards towards Sant’Agata mountain. After a farm you arrive on the provincial road and you can decide to stop for a while by a white marble pit, where it is possible to see a goodly colony of newts, or you can climb until the top of Sant’Agata mountain to see the ruins of an ancient medieval tower and a church.
Continuing along the provincial road you will meet the main road; turning right you will reach the top of San Nicolao mountain from where you can enjoy a unique panorama. Begin the descent following the signs and turn left towards Moneglia. During the trail you will meet the ruins of a medieval church and a splendid chestnut grove. Proceed facing the sea walking along multicolour rocks until you come back on the main road nearby the locality Casa Marcone. From here you can continue along the wonderful ridge leading to Incisa pass and then to Deiva or Moneglia.

MONEGLIA – RIVA TRIGOSO (SESTRI LEVANTE)
Difficulty: medium;
About KM 10; 5h 30’

From Moneglia railway station take the road towards the sea; at the first curve you find on the right hand side a staircase from which the footpath until Moneglia mountain leaves (trail mark: two red X). The track continues uphill until reaching the flat and wooded top of Servagli mountain (327 metres above sea level) walking along the wide peak. Arriving in the Comunaglia mountain (463 metres above sea level) walk along the peak along a narrow path leading to Moneglia Mountain (512 metres above sea level). Continuing along the path towards Casazza (trail mark: two red rhombus) arrive in a small glade where you take the path to Riva Trigoso (two res circles) that goes down rapidly inside the wood. At the junction turn right and cross a glade with picnic area, continue on a trail (two red circles) going down with magnificent views over Punta Manara and Sestri Levante. At the junction turn right on the path towards Punta Baffe and in short you will see the tower with the same name from where you can enjoy an outstanding view over Riva Trigoso. Coming back to the path our itinerary turn left and begins to go down among heath, strawberry trees and breathtaking panoramas. The path is first unsurfaced ad then asphalted and wider and in a couple of curves leads to the provincial road to Riva Trigoso.

SESTRI LEVANTE-PUNTA MANARA
Difficulty: low;
About Km 4; 2 h 15’
It is a brief and relaxing excursion that offers splendid panoramas over the sea. At the Exit of Sestri Levante (Motorway Genoa-La Spezia) continue until the centre of the town. Trail mark: two red full circles. Go along for about 100 metres southward the beaten-earth path and then continue along a small lane on the left. The path continues uphill through some stone steps, meets a small chapel and then crosses the south-eastern hillside of Castello Mountain, and finally arrives to the rocky Punta Manara. Going back you walk along the same path, then turn left on another track (trail mark two full red squares) leading to Sestri Levante. In the last part the path inserts in an alley that goes down until the centre of the town.

Portofino Point
PORTOFINO-CAMOGLI
Difficulty: medium- Km - 4h 30’
It is a wonderful track along the suggestive sea versants of the point. It has some little difficulties only in the part between Cala dell’Oro and the Batterie.
From Santa Margherita take the bus or the ferry to Portofino.
Trail mark: two red full circles.
From Portofino take the pedestrian road going uphill north-westwards among woods and fields until Case del Prato (about 240 metres above sea level). Walking the path cross the small river Raffinale and reach the base “O” (above 207 metres above sea level). From base “O” begin to go down towards san Fruttuoso and its splendid abbey (about 1h 30’ from Portofino).
After crossing the town, take the path to the right going uphill north-westwards until 275 metres above sea level and then going down towards Cala dell’Oro (75 metres above sea level). The path goes down uphill, crossing some almost difficult parts (wire ropes) until it reaches Le Batterie (230 metres above sea level), ancient military batteries. The paths becomes a mule track and reaches san Rocco (221 metres above sea level); from san Rocco, walking along a paved street you arrive in Camogli (2h 45’ fro San Fruttuoso).





Portofino Mountain
CAMOGLI-SANTA MARGHERITA
Difficulty: low- 3h 30’/ 4h
The track is developed along pedestrian streets and very well marked footpaths and offers wonderful panoramas.
From Camogli railway station follow the street downhill to the left until you reach the torrent Gentile. Walk the path (trail mark: two full red circles) bordering the torrent on the left and go up until san Rocco through steps and short flat parts.
Continue along the mule track and after 1 Km you come to a junction: turn left taking a path (trail mark: two red empty triangles) leading to a pinewood. Then reach Sella Toca (450 metres above sea level), located between Semaforo Nuovo and Monte Tocco. After 500 metres along a flat footpath always following the two red empty triangles, turn right towards Semaforo Nuovo, highest point of Portofino mountain (610 metres above sea level).
From that point begins to go down until you meet a flat path and turn left until Pietre Strette gate (425 metres above sea level). Follow the pedestrian road to Portofino (Trail mark: one full red square) until the locality of Olmi (297 metres above sea level), then take the path to the left marked by a red cross. You will meet the small chapel of Gave and the Madonna di Nozarego Sanctuary. After reaching the paved road go right until Madonne della Neve and then go down towards Santa Margherita.

Portofino point
WATERWORKS FOOTPATH
Difficulty: high- 3h 30’/ 4h

The path is quite difficult: you cross dark tunnels and hard parts you hace to take care. It is useful to bring an electric torch.
The departure is located in San Rocco di Camogli you can reach by car or on foot:

> by car: from the exit of Recco or Rapallo follow the Aurelia road


> on foot: from Camogli railway station, follow the road downhill to the left, until reaching the river Gentile. Walk along the path (trail mark: two red full circles) bordering the river on the left and then go up until san Rocco through steps and short flat parts.
From san Rocco walk along the mule track leading to Le Batterie (trail mark: two red full circles), old military batteries and follow a path going uphill until reaching the waterworks pipe. Following it you will cross dark tunnels and some difficult parts where you have to care.
Continue until you reach the mule track connecting san Fruttuoso to Pietre Strette gate (452 metres above sea level) (trail mark: one red empty circle), after that take the road leading to Portofino Vetta. Before arriving there nearby Gaixella col (480 metres above sea level) you will meet a path going downhill towards san Rocco (trail mark: red empty circle).