The Cinque Terre footpaths: from Portovenere to Monterosso

FOOTPATHS 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.

FOOTPATHS 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).

FOOTPATHS 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.

FOOTPATHS 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.

LA VIA DELL’AMORE
KM 1 - 25 Min.
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.

FOOTPATHS 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).

FOOTPATHS 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.

FOOTPATHS 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.

FOOTPATHS 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.

FOOTPATHS 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 withvegetables, 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.