Soggiorna
Liguria is rich in trails that connect historic villages and natural landscapes. Before each description, you will find verified data for the route (starting and ending points, trail code when available, whether it is a loop or one-way, kilometers, elevation gain, difficulty, time, responsible authority, and date of the last verification): where an official source did not specify a data point precisely, we explicitly note it instead of making it up. Mountain and coastal trails may close due to landslides, storm surges, or maintenance without notice: always check the updated status with the responsible authority before setting out.
1. Pignone – Prato di Corno, via Monte Castellaro (Val di Vara)
From Pignone, a village in Val di Vara with stone houses and remnants of ancient mills (Mulino del Duce, Mulino della Calzetta — now a hiking refuge of the Park), trail 556 ascends to Monte Castellaro, an ancient Ligurian settlement ("castellaro"), and continues to Prato di Corno. It is not a loop: to return to Pignone, you retrace the same trail, or — if you want to shorten it — you can stop at Castellaro and return from there.
- Starting and ending points: Pignone → Prato di Corno
- Trail code: 556 (Ligurian Hiking Network / CAI section La Spezia)
- One-way or loop: one-way (the same stretch is retraced on the return)
- Kilometers: 3.3 km (one-way)
- Elevation gain: +505 m / −20 m
- Difficulty: E (hiking)
- Travel time: 2h (outbound), 1h (return)
- Responsible authority: CAI section La Spezia (REL/CAI network)
- Last verification: 2026-07-23
2. Via dell'Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola
The most famous stretch of the Azzurro Trail of the Cinque Terre. Attention to the opening status: at the time of the last verification, the Manarola side was closed due to landslide risk (announcement from the Municipality of Riomaggiore), with access possible only from the Riomaggiore side for a short stretch. Always check the official notice from the Municipality of Riomaggiore or the Cinque Terre National Park before planning your visit: the reopening of this stretch has been postponed several times over the years.
- Starting and ending points: Riomaggiore – Manarola
- Trail code: 531 (Ligurian Hiking Network / CAI section La Spezia), regional code GSPA53123PE
- One-way or loop: point-to-point, one-way (to return to the starting point, you retrace the same stretch or take the train between the two villages)
- Kilometers: 1.5 km
- Elevation gain: +130 m / −60 m
- Difficulty: E (hiking) according to the REL/CAI sheet — in the equipped tourist stretch, the perception is easier, but the official classification remains E
- Travel time: about 45 minutes (one-way, on an entirely open path)
- Responsible authority: CAI section La Spezia (data survey) / Cinque Terre National Park / Municipality of Riomaggiore (management and opening status)
- Opening status at last verification: partially closed (Manarola side) — check for updates
- Trail data verified on: 2026-07-23 (source: REL/CAI sheet, site inspection 2015-07-28 — the dimensional data of the route do not change, but do not reflect any more recent changes to the path)
- Opening status verified on: 2026-07-23 (source: announcement from the Municipality of Riomaggiore)
3. Anello dei Forti di Genova (I1 – Anello Maggiore)
Also known as the "Fort Trail," it connects the 19th-century forts of the defensive system of Genoa (Forte Sperone, Forte Puin, Forte Fratello Minore, Forte Diamante) along the ridge of the Urban Walls Park, with views of the city and the sea. The complete route is challenging: those who want to shorten it can stop at one of the intermediate forts and descend towards Righi.
- Starting and ending points: Righi (loop; starting variants from Trensasco or the village of Begato)
- Trail code: I1 "Anello Maggiore" (Ligurian Hiking Network / Urban Walls Park)
- One-way or loop: loop
- Kilometers: 8.1 km (calculated from the official route)
- Elevation gain: about 440 m (from tourist guide, not confirmed by the REL/CAI sheet)
- Difficulty: EE (for experienced hikers, according to the REL/CAI classification — stricter than indicated by the tourist guide)
- Travel time: about 4 hours (from tourist guide, not confirmed by the REL/CAI sheet)
- Responsible authority: Urban Walls Park, Municipality of Genoa
- Last verification: 2026-07-23
4. Camogli – San Fruttuoso – Portofino (crossing of the promontory)
The complete crossing of the Portofino promontory, from Camogli to Portofino passing through San Rocco, the Passo del Bacio, and San Fruttuoso: longer and more challenging than just the stretch to San Fruttuoso, but for this reason, you can shorten it as you wish. If you only want the easier part, the Portofino–San Fruttuoso stretch alone is 4.3 km, elevation gain +250/−250 m, about 2h–2h15, difficulty E (according to the Portofino Park Authority) — to return to Portofino, you can retrace the same trail or return by sea with the boat from San Fruttuoso, when active.
- Starting and ending points: Camogli → Portofino (via San Rocco, Passo del Bacio, San Fruttuoso)
- Trail code: 102 (Ligurian Hiking Network / Portofino Park Authority)
- One-way or loop: one-way
- Kilometers: 11.4 km (complete crossing; only Portofino–San Fruttuoso: 4.3 km)
- Elevation gain: not confirmed by the REL/CAI sheet for the complete crossing; the only Portofino–San Fruttuoso stretch is +250/−250 m
- Difficulty: EE (for experienced hikers) for the complete crossing; the only Portofino–San Fruttuoso stretch is E
- Travel time: not confirmed by the REL/CAI sheet for the complete crossing; the only Portofino–San Fruttuoso stretch is 2h–2h15
- Responsible authority: Regional Natural Park Authority of Portofino (REL/CAI network)
- Last verification: 2026-07-23
5. Anello Dolceacqua–Tramontina
From Dolceacqua, a village in the Ligurian hinterland with the medieval bridge and the Doria Castle, a loop that ascends through olive groves and Rossese vineyards to the ridge of Cima Tramontina, sharing a stretch with the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri.
- Starting and ending points: Dolceacqua (loop)
- Trail code: 103V "Arcagna" (Ligurian Hiking Network / CAI), REL code GIMA103D9VE
- One-way or loop: loop
- Kilometers: 10.2 km
- Elevation gain: +481 m
- Difficulty: E (hiking)
- Travel time: about 4 hours
- Responsible authority: Municipality of Dolceacqua (REL/CAI network)
- Last verification: 2026-07-23
Before You Go
- Always check the status of the route with the responsible authority indicated in each description: closures due to landslides, storm surges, or maintenance are frequent on Ligurian trails and can last for years (as is the case with the Via dell'Amore).
- Always bring hiking shoes, water, and an offline map/app of the trails: signal coverage is not guaranteed everywhere.
- Respect the signage and do not cut the trails: many routes cross natural parks or private agricultural areas.