Hiking trials

Sestri Levante has many excursion routes, mainly overlooking the sea. The most renowned routes follow the Promontory of Punta Manara, which separates Sestri Levante from Riva Trigoso.

Other itineraries overlooking the sea are those winding up to Punta Baffe, on the eastern side of the bay of Riva Trigoso, which can take you all the way to Moneglia or Casarza Ligure.

You can have an interesting nature and historic excursion in the area of Sant'Anna, which can take you on foot to Cavi Vecchio or towards Mount Capenardo.

Punta Manara

On the promontory, a network of well marked trails gives you the chance of admiring beautiful panoramas and taking pleasant and easy walks through ilex groves, centuries-old cork oaks, Mediterranean bush and terraces cultivated with care. The far end of the promontory, which you can reach on foot, is called Telegrafo (a cliff about 180 m. above the sea). This was a sighting point and also the site of the optical telegraph: from here the view sweeps on clear days from the Tuscan archipelago to France.

Punta Baffe

Like Punta Manara, Punta Baffe offers the chance to walk along panoramic trails, rich in history and nature. In 2004 the promontory was devastated by a terrible fire: the signs of it are still visible today but some vegetation has survived and in some areas the Mediterranean bush is growing once again. The best known and frequented trail starts from the cemetery of Riva Trigoso and arrives at the tower that was part, like the one on top of Punta Manara, of the sighting system set up in the

17^th century as a defence against pirates' raids. The panoramas range from the valley of Sestri Levante to those of Val Petronio, to sweeping views of the sea embracing the whole Gulf of Tigullio. On clear days you can enjoy even wider views.

Sant'Anna

The area of Sant'Anna is on the far western end of the municipality of Sestri Levante; the trail starts in Pietra Calante and is what remains of the trail connecting Sestri Levante to Cavi and Lavagna, before the construction of the present road by the sea. The trail is known for the five Napoleonic bridges that go over the small creeks descending from Mt. Capenardo.

This hill was hit in a short time by two fires which destroyed the vegetation - mainly maritime pine woods. This has dramatically modified the environment, now characterised by a rich presence of typical Mediterranean bush species. Walking along the first part of the trail, you can reach the ruins of the church of Sant'Anna. From here you can admire a beautiful view of the two bays of Sestri Levante and follow the course of the terraces built on the narrow sides of Valle del Fico. From the ruins of the church the panorama opens up on the Gulf of Tigullio and Portofino.