Interesting sites located at East of Sestri Levante

Cinque Terre

Monterosso

Monterosso al Mare is the westernmost of the Cinque Terre and is reached by walking along the most difficult part of the "Sentiero Azzurro" footpath. The village is protected by hills covered with vineyards and olive groves and is surrounded by vegetation. Its beautiful beaches, steep rugged cliffs and crystal-clear waters, make this one of the most charming resorts on the Ligurian Riviera of the east.  The medieval tower "Aurora", located on the hills of the Cappuccini, separates the ancient part of the village from the more modern part. In the church of San Francesco paintings of great importance such as the Crucifixion, believed by many to have been painted by Van Dyck, are preserved.

Vernazza

A path with breathtaking views winding along Mediterranean groves and partly deserted fields and vineyards, reaches its peak on the route leading to Vernazza.  This village, founded around the 1st Century, in time acquired deep-rooted maritime traditions. Some examples of excellent architecture, such as loggias, arcades and portals are evidence of a standard of living that was economically and socially superior to that of the other villages of the Cinque Terre.

Corniglia

Corniglia is located on the ridge of a rocky promontory at the foot of a terraced vineyard. More concentrated on agriculture than on fishing, this farming community is very similar architecturally to inland agricultural villages. The parish church of San Pietro, built in 1334 on the ruins of an old 11th century chapel, is one of the most beautiful, Gothic-Ligurian style monuments to be found in the Cinque Terre. It has been subsequently renovated but still retains a baroque overlay. Under the churchyard there is a black stone building with Gothic arches which is traditionally thought to be the ancient seat of the Fieschi family.

Manarola

There is a very beautiful footpath called the Lovers' Pathway, "La Via dell'Amore", which starts in Manarola. This high winding footpath, The Lovers' Pathway, along the coast is a thirty-minute walk from Riomaggiore. This is a very ancient village, but it is difficult to give an accurate account of its history due to the lack of clear historical information. In a dominant position, overlooking the centre of the village, is the church built in a Gothic style in 1338. Sheltered in a deep gorge between two promontory rocks there is the little port.

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is the easternmost of the Cinque Terre and is located in the narrow valley of the "Rio Maior", along whose course the village was born. The birth of the village, according to tradition, dates back to the 8th Century, when it was founded by group of Greek refugees who escaped the religious persecution of the Byzantine Emperor, Leone III 'L'Isaurico'. The earliest historical information concerns its transfer from the hands of the Fieschi family to the Republic of Genova in 1276. The village has an urban layout made up of a series of footpaths which follow the outline of the land. These steep footpaths allow direct access to the upper floors of some of the houses, the oldest of which are tower-like and built vertically in parallel clusters. Overlooking the village is the parish church of Saint John the Baptist, 'San Giovanni Battista', built in 1340 by the Bishop of Luni. In 1870, the facade began to crumble and was rebuilt in the Gothic style. Nearby is the house where Telemaco Signorini stayed on a number of occasions after 1870. Characteristic features of the village were portrayed in many of his paintings. Down below is the 16th Century "Oratory of the Disciplined" while high up on the opposite side of the village are the remarkable ruins of the 15-16th Century castle where the old cemetery was situated.

HIKING TRAILS

Riomaggiore- Monterosso

Walking time: 5 hours

The route starts from the Railway Station square and proceeds along the Lovers' Way or "Via dell'Amore" to Manarola (30 minute-walk). From Manarola it rises slightly then levels off along a lovely bridle-path and arrives at the Corniglia Railway Station. From here it continues on to the centre of the village climbing up some steep steps (1 hour). From Corniglia the route maintains more or less the same level, with some difficult points along the way and eventually drops down to Vernazza (1 hour and 30 minutes). This is where the longest and most difficult part of the pathway starts. It is important to take extra care here because of frequent landslides. Here the route reaches a height of 180 meters and goes down sharply to Monterosso, finishing near the Town Hall (2 hours).

Biassa 312 m. - Riomaggiore

Walking time: 2 hours

The route starts in the village near the bus terminal, rises gently up through a chestnut grove and reaches the telegraph hill (516 m). From here onwards the pathway goes downhill, passing Lemmen (a small part of the village), through the Sanctuary of Montenero and along a lovely bridle-path to Riomaggiore ending at the Railway Station square.

La Foce 242 m. - Riomaggiore

Walking time: 3 hours

The route starts from the road to Castä, following it up to the village then, crossing cultivated lands to Carpena (408 m). From here it passes through a chestnut grove, rising up to the "La Croce" pass after which there is a steep descent with offers a lovely view of the sea down to Riomaggiore. The route ends at the Railway Station square.

Riccò del Golfo 148 m. - Vernazza

Walking time: 3 hours

The pathway starts from the road to Casella and follows it as far as the village. From Casella onward the footpath goes downhill passing Case Fornacchi and San Bernardino, then continues abruptly down through vineyards and dry stone walls joining route number 2 which leads to Vernazza.

Monterosso - Santuario di Soviore

Walking time: 1,5 hours

The pathway starts from the road that crosses the old part of the village and proceeds along a lovely bridle-path. It rises through olive groves, crosses the coastal ("Litoranea") road and passes the shrine Saint Mary Madeleine ("Santa Maria Maddalena"), finishing at the Sanctuary of Sovoire ("Santuario del Soviore") square.

Monterosso - Punta Mesco 314 m.

Walking time: 1 hour

The pathway starts from the road in front of the Railway Station. After passing above the Sailing Club it rises through a pinewood along a bridle-path which becomes a steeply, stepped path that leads to the top of the promontory. The path, which offers breathtaking views of the area, finishes at the church of Saint Anthony.