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Overlooking the Cinque Terre

Along a panoramic ridge trail, from Biassa to Levanto, on the border of the National Park

The trek starts from Biassa, one of the oldest towns of the municipality of La Spezia, softly settled on the side of the homonymous mountain. Easily reachable by public bus service, with interesting architectural highlights, Biassa is a significant junction for excursions into the national park Parco nazionale delle Cinque Terre and the Vara valley. It is small and has, like many ligurian villages, no real centre, being built on the cliffs of the soil, on a curve, turned towards east in order to take the most advantage of the sun. In old times some pirate groups arrived at the village, of which the researchers found traces in the features of the inhabitants, invaders which pushed on as far as the near coast of Tramonti for the cultivation of vines.

Turn into the road indicated near the church of San Martino and passing under chestnuts and cluster-pines you will arrive at Colle del Telegrafo. At this point the trail will take you high above the sea to the other side of the Cinque Terre. The path winds along the ridge, touching the 785 m of the Monte Capri. Near this summit we find one of the most ancient testimonies of men in this area: a menhir of the megalithic period. The trail takes us through the middle of forests of cluster-pines, prickly broom scrubs and mesophill vegetation, like chestnuts and hornbeams. There are breathtaking views on the sea, on the village of Riomaggiore and the terraced coast, cultivated exclusively with vines. Get ready for the most demanding stretch of our trek, which will take us up close to the top of Monte Malpertuso, the highest elevation of the Cinque Terre; you will encounter it after the mountains Gaginara and Castello.

The effort of the climb is relieved by the majestic panoramas that nature presents in this beautiful place; on clear days you will be able to see as far as the islands of Corsica and Gorgona. From the Malpertuso the road begins to descend, passing by the Foce Drignana, above the village of Vernazza, to the pass of Termine di Soviore and the village Colla di Gritta. On this last stretch the trail coincides with the tarmac road to Levanto. Near a restaurant we come upon the entrance to the next trail, which we will follow to the end of our journey, the city of Levanto. The first stretch is a steep trail along a dirt road, descending between chestnuts and pines. At the end of the forest we are welcomed by an olive grove, which will keep us company until we arrive in the village of Fontona. From here onwards the trail follows an old mule track and finally crosses over a little stone bridge with a single arch. It then returns to the provincial road which arrives at the city of Levanto, surrounded by the vineyards of the Colline die Levanto DOC wine.

Difficoltà 2

Lunghezza: 21.00 Km

Durata: ore