Trekking trails in Manarola

Journey time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Difficulty: E - Hiking (medium)
Lenght: 2.184 km

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 arrive at the hamlet of Volastra passing through Poggio Le Croci, while keeping to the left, you continue the journey towards Corniglia. 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, walk along the Corniglia beach and reach the station. To get to the town, it is necessary to climb the 382 steps of the Lardarina staircase at 90 meters above sea level. The difference in height of the path is 120 meters.

Journey time: 25 minutes.
Difficulty: T - For turists (easy)
Lenght: 1.112 km

From the main street of Manarola, the trail goes to the train station along the pedestrian tunnel and climb a short staircase leading to the railway wall. Here it begins the most famous part of the Blue Path, the "Via dell’Amore", Walk of Love, a pedestrian promenade carved into the rock and open to the sea.
The first part is characterized by clay, which in places form the bed of the same path. It then continues along a stretch flanked by horizontal layers of rock. The following part has the same characteristic. At a rocky headland, the path changes direction and heads inward, reaching the railway station of Riomaggiore and then via Telemaco Signorini. The last part is right on the reef and bypassed the last rocky outcrop, the trail ends in Riomaggiore village through the road that leads to the forecourt of the church of San Giovanni Battista.

Travel time: 1 hour
Difficulty: EE - Hiking experts
Lenght: 1.470 km

The ancient connection between Riomaggiore and Manarola, the only one in use until the construction of the railway and the Via dell'Amore. The path rises steeply from the Riomaggiore train station from which, along Via Signorini to the intersection on the left with Via Tracastello, introduces into the valley of the Rio Finale 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, and then descends on the left towards Manarola always along an ancient staircase.

Journey time: 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Difficulty: E - Hiking
Length: 4.031 km
Difference in altitude: 635 mt
From Manarola follow uphill Via Discovolo towards the exit of the town and climb along a mule track until you reach Pie di Fiesse, near the coastal road. Walk along the asphalt road for a short distance towards Groppo, then go up on the left to Volastra, on the ancient municipal staircase. Arriving in Volastra, pass the SP51 just before the cemetery, and climb on the left towards Case Bovera up to reach the south-east Sella of Monte Marvede.

Journey time: 50 minutes.
Difficulty: E - Hiking
Length: 2,377 km
Difference in altitude: 121 mt

Path 586 winds along the hillside from Volastra to the intersection with path 587, almost near of Case Pianca. From the square of the sanctuary of Volastra, the path skirts on the left the Provincial Road of the Sanctuaries heading north-west, between vineyards and dry stone walls, passing through Case Porciana. After passing the tiny village, you enter a maritime pine forest continuing to the intersection with path 587 Corniglia-Cigoletta under Case Pianca.

Journey time: 45 minutes.
Difficulty: E - Hiking
Length: 1,925 km
Difference in altitude: 232 mt

The route climbs from Volastra to the border with Val di Vara along an ancient mule track. From the vilalge, the path climbs up through chestnut woods, first beating the south-east side of Mount Le Croci and then the south side of Mount Capri. Under the Costa Galera pass, the route joins path 502 reaching the Sella del Monte Galera.