The best trails in Cinque Terre

And today I bring you a very special guest post from one of the members of an organization that I am also part of, the Travel Blog Association in Italy. Our guest today is Stefania Ciocconi, who brings us the best trails in Cinque Terre. Here at Your Travel to Italy with Ana Patricia you make the trip of your dreams!!! ALSO: see our “Accommodation in Italy – Tips for your holidays!”.

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Cinque Terre and its Trails

Cinque Terre are five cities located on the northern coast of Italy, more precisely in the Ligury region. Full of charm, beauty, and magic, the Cinque Terra are very special pieces of land and full of trails.

The Cinque Terre is famous for its characteristic villages with houses in pastel colors and for its wonderful coastline, which has coves and beaches that invite us to take a dip. The walks there are an excellent way to discover this area that is located in the province of La Spezia and extends throughout the Cinque Terre National Park, which offers a great structure for all types of tourists, including great options for more demanding tourists.

If you plan to visit the Cinque Terre for just one day, don’t miss the opportunity to walk along one of the well-signposted paths that connect the different villages to appreciate the beauty of the vineyards and the ever-changing landscapes at every season of the year.

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The Sentiero Azzurro from Corniglia to Vernazza

The Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) once connected all the Cinque Terre villages, but some landslides have made part of the original path impassable, and, to preserve the safety of visitors, some sections have been closed. This makes it clear how fragile this area is, but at the same time how fascinating it is, precisely because of the presence of dry stone walls built to make room for the cultivation of vines and olive trees.

The path that joins Corniglia to Vernazza is just over three kilometers long and takes just an hour and a half. This is one of the most scenic routes in Cinque Terre, and between April and October, given the need for constant maintenance, it is necessary to pay a ticket to access the park.

Important:

It’s not a difficult path, but it’s always good to wear trekking shoes or shoes with non-slip soles.

Starting from Corniglia

Starting from Corniglia, you go up through the vineyards, finding an artistic representation made of stones, called Third Paradise. This art was inspired by Michelangelo Pistoletto’s design.

In Prevo, almost halfway along the route, you can stop and enjoy a lemon granita while admiring the view of Corniglia perched on the headland.

Arriving at Vernazza

After some ups and downs, you finally reach Vernazza, and near the stone tower, you can admire one of the most evocative views of the small village that opens before our eyes in all its majesty.

The tour can end with a tasting of the good Schiacchetrà wine, with its intoxicating flavor, in one of the locations on the main street. This street goes down towards the small harbor where the Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia stands on the rocks.

Good to know!

The two villages can be easily reached by train, and if you want to go up to Corniglia, which is the only village in the Cinque Terre that is not located on the seafront, you can take the bus or climb the Lardarina staircase, facing 400 low steps of red bricks.

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The Infinity Path from Riomaggiore to Portovenere

Another very suggestive and panoramic path is the one that connects Riomaggiore to Portovenere. A hike of around 13 kilometers (which requires around five hours to cover) is only recommended for experienced hikers due to the considerable difference in height.

Starting from Riomaggiore

From Riomaggiore, go up the beautiful path towards the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Montenero, from where you can admire the first panoramic views of this coastal stretch. The path is well marked and is indicated with the initials SVA. This route passes through terraced vineyards and, in spring, an explosion of flowers to reach the Colle del Telegrafo after just over two hours at an altitude of 514 meters above sea level. This name is due to the presence of a station that was there in the 19th century called Telegrafo Ottico.

AV5T path

From here, the path changes its name to AV5T, and it is a wide, flat dirt path that, passing through a forest, reaches the Church of Sant’Antonio, where there is a small place where you can stop and have lunch.

Arriving in Campiglia

The simplest route continues on the ridge between the trees and reaches Campiglia, a small cluster of houses with panoramic views of the town of La Spezia and the coast below.

The path towards Portovenere is called the Path of Infinity for the beauty of the view on the horizon that, on clearer days, offers us the beautiful islands of the Tuscan archipelago, Corsica, and, on the other side, the Alps on the border with France.

Important:

This route is for walks for those who are already used to hiking because the route does not have stairs and rocks, and therefore it is necessary to be careful when walking there, but it is compensated by the spectacular view of the coast with the cliffs that unexpectedly descend to the sea.

The best view from here is that of a rocky outcrop located just before Sella dei Derbi, which caps off the wild beauty of this coastal stretch under Mount Muzzerone.

Arriving in Portovenere

After going through this section, head towards Portovenere and enjoy the last descent, which offers us a suggestive view of the small Church of San Pietro, the Doria Castle, and Palmaria Island, right in front.

Portovenere presents itself with its tower houses built as a defense against the attacks of the sea, and is one of the most characteristic towns of the Gulf of La Spezia, that is: it deserves a walk to the church and the square of the castle where two old circular mills stand.

Good to know!

Along the way, you will find stops near the Church of Sant’Antonio, in Campiglia, in Sella dei Derbi, and in the Muzzerone refuge, but be aware that some of them are closed in the winter months.
To return to La Spezia, take the bus, which departs every 15 minutes, or, in the summer months, take the ferry that arrives and departs from the Cinque Terre towns. Take the opportunity to admire this territory from another perspective.

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The Path of Love

Via dell’Amore connects Riomaggiore to Manarola, but at the moment only two sections are open at the beginning and end of the paved path that is just over a kilometer long.

This road was created during the construction of the railway line at the end of the 19th century, and then made available to anyone who wanted to take a beautiful panoramic walk along a path with the steep cliff behind.

Good to know!

The two panoramic areas allow those who are not used to walking on bumpy paths to appreciate the beauty of the coast, which is dotted with an infinity of agaves and small plants typical of the Mediterranean maquis that manage to grow between the rocks.

A little more about Cinque Terre…

The Cinque Terre is known for this beautiful seaside route, but as you have seen, there are many routes to do in this recommended destination for trekking in spring and on beautiful sunny days in autumn and winter.” To find out more about hiking in Cinque Terre click here!

Guest Post by Stefania Ciocconi – www.girovagandoconstefania.it
Instagram: www.instagram.com/girovagandoconstefania
Face page: www.facebook.com/girovagandoconstefania
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/StefaniaC-GirovagandoconStefania

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Conclusion

The best trails in Cinque Terre, by Stefania Ciocconi. Cinque Terre is a charming location. At the same time that it presents itself in a simple way, it has a majestic beauty and a nature that impresses!

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