THE BLUE PATH
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The Blue Path, today referred to as the Green-Blue Path (SVA, i.e. Sentiero Verde Azzurro) unites the five seaside villages. It is the most famous and evocative route of the Cinque Terre, traced over the centuries, when it represented the only communication route for the inhabitants of the Cinque Terre, except for the more recent Via dell'Amore.
In some places the route turns out to be a real mule track that winds along the seafront offering fabulous views. The difficulty is not to be underestimated as along the way you can find narrowings, slippery sections and cliffs.
The Blue Path is approximately 12 km long and the maximum altitude of 200 meters is found at Prevo, in the municipality of Vernazza. The route is composed of paths for approximately 8 km, cobbled mule tracks and steps for approximately 2 km, and the seafront of the Walk of Love, Via dell'Amore, and internal roads of the villages for the rest.
To walk the entire Blue Path it takes about 5 hours and overall you overcome a difference in altitude of 500 metres. The ideal is to divide the route into stages.
Transit on the Blue Path is possible with the purchase of the Cinque Terre Card.
The information reported here is for guidance only. We assume no responsibility for the actual practicability of the path.
- 1. 592-1 (SVA2): Riomaggiore - Manarola. Via dell'Amore
- 2. 592-2 (SVA2): Manarola - Corniglia (CLOSED)
- 3. 592-3 (SVA2): Corniglia - Vernazza
- 4. 592-4 (SVA2) Vernazza - Monterosso
592-1 (SVA2): Riomaggiore - Manarola. Via dell'Amore
Journey time: 25 minutes.
Difficulty: T - Tourist
Length: 1,112 km
It is the famous "Via dell'Amore". The route starts near the Riomaggiore train station. On the left is the access staircase and after only a few steps you are already overlooking the sea. From the geomorphological point of view, you can admire the sandstones of Riomaggiore and the signs of marine erosion. The vegetation is composed of plants such as agaves, sea fennel, wallflower, the rare Brassica robertiana. In the last stretch of the path you pass under terraced vineyards that dominate the railway station of Manarola. To enter the town, go through a pedestrian tunnel of about 150 meters.
Detailed information on the route of the Via dell'Amore
Alternative
Path 531: Riomaggiore-Manarola (Via Beccara)
Journey time: 1 hour
Difficulty: EE - Expert hikers
Length: 1,470 km
Difference in altitude: 202 mt
The ancient connection between Riomaggiore and Manarola, the only one in use until the construction of the railway and the Via dell'Amore, rises steeply from the Riomaggiore train station from which, along Via Signorini to the intersection on the left with Via Tracastello, which introduces into the valley of the Rio Final canal.
Between cultivated gardens you come to a small bridge, from which begins the long staircase that leads up to the ridge of the Costa Corniolo, then descends on the left towards Riomaggiore, again along an ancient staircase.
Detailed information on the route of the Via Beccara
Path 531: Riomaggiore-Manarola (Via Beccara)
592-2 (SVA2): Manarola - Corniglia (CLOSED)
Journey time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Difficulty: E - Hiking
Length: 2,184 km
Water points: several points
From Manarola we proceed towards the Marina di Manarola and then we climb towards the cemetery. Here you will find a crossroads at the height of a chapel of the Madonna dating back to 1860. Going to the right you will arrive at the hamlet of Volastra passing through Poggio Le Croci, while keeping to the left, you continue your journey towards Corniglia with a flat path.
The last stretch of the route runs along the artificial beach created during the construction of the old railway for about a kilometer. Before arriving at the Corniglia train station you pass through the Valle Asciutta. After crossing the canal, go along the Corniglia beach and reach the station. To get to the town, it is necessary to climb the 377 steps of the Lardarina staircase at 90 meters above sea level. The difference in height of the path is 120 meters.
Detailed information on the route Manarola-Corniglia
Alternative First part of path 506 up to Volastra; path 586 from Volastra to the junction with path 587 near Case Pianca; path 587 from Case Pianca to Corniglia.
Journey time: about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Difficulty: EE - For expert hikers
Length: about 5.5 km
From Manarola go up along Via Discovolo towards the exit of the town and up along a mule track until you reach Pie di Fiesse, near the coastal road, along the paved road for a short distance towards Groppo. Then go up on the left to Volastra, along the ancient municipal staircase.
From Volastra the route runs along the provincial road of the Sanctuaries on the left towards the north-west, between vineyards and dry stone walls, passing through Case Porciana. After passing the tiny town, you enter a maritime pine forest continuing to the intersection with path 587 Corniglia-Cigoletta under Case Pianca.
From here the path descends towards Corniglia through a pine forest, then terraced strips of vineyards and olive trees, many of which are abandoned. Continue to descend a very steep staircase and some bumpy points until you reach the church of San Lorenzo.
592-3 (SVA2): Corniglia - Vernazza
Journey time: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Difficulty: EE - Expert hikers
Length: 4,137 km
Difference in altitude: 269 mt
From the church of San Pietro, take Via Serra, leaving the town along a narrow paved road. Cross the paved road and continue to descend over the Rio Groppo, and then go up again through high dry stone walls to some terraced strips of land planted with olive trees. The paved road continues to climb up to the bridge over the Fosso del Canaletto, and again on becoming a stone mule track, in some places with stairs. Here there is a panoramic point, with Corniglia at the bottom and the valley with the beach of Guvano.
Continue to climb until you reach the village of Prevo (280 meters), and then continue on a slight slope among olive groves up to the stairway that descends to the steep coast of Macereto. Vernazza appears in all its splendor, always keep on o descending towards Via Roma and the town square.
Detailed information on the route Corniglia-Vernazza
592-4 (SVA2) Vernazza - Monterosso
Journey time: 2 hours. (Return: 2 hours and 15 minutes)
Difficulty: EE - For expert hikers
Length: 3,668 km
Difference in altitude: 217 mt
The blue Vernazza-Monterosso path starts from the small port of Vernazza going up Via Roma and immediately taking a narrow alley to the left that climbs along a staircase, until it reaches the church of Santa Margherita. The staircase continues to become a dirt path, always uphill. Paying close attention, you continue crossing a small bridge over the Rio Riolo, ascending along a steep mule track to the panoramic pitch among the olive trees of Costa Mesorano.
The path is now up and down, among the Mediterranean scrub, some rare wetlands, terraced vineyards and lemon groves starting to descend along a staircase flanked by stone walls to the panoramic cliff of Punta Corone, in view of Monterosso and the hill of San Cristoforo.
Detailed information on the route Vernazza-Monterosso
