THE VIA BECCARA
Travel time: 1 hour outward, 1 hour return
Difficulty: EE - Expert hikers
Length: 1,470 km
Height difference: 202 m
The Via Beccara is the ancient mule track that connected Riomaggiore and Manarola until the construction of the railway and the Via dell'Amore, Walk of Love, in 1920. Almost completely made up of steps, it climbs towards the Costa Corniolo hill, which divides the two villages. The time and effort are the same whether starting from Riomaggiore or Manarola, with around 600 steps to climb and the same number to descend.
The trail is steep, with gradients of up to 47%. From Manarola you climb with a difference in altitude of 170 metres, from Riomaggiore with 190 metres.
Signposted as path 531, from Riomaggiore it starts near the train station, continues going up Via Signorini, leaving it on the left.
The beginning of the steps and the dirt road from Via Signorini:
The Via Beccara continues along cultivated vegetable gardens up to the stone bridge over the Rio Finale, from which the long and steep staircase begins, interspersed with stretches of dirt path, which climbs through the fields up to the ridge of Costa Corniolo. For long stretches the path is flanked by the rack monorail used to transport the grapes during the harvest.
The arrival at Costa Corniolo:
From Costa Corniolo the descent towards Manarola begins, first along a dirt road, then along the ancient stone staircase with irregular steps that descends to the village in Via Rollandi, near the church of San Lorenzo.
During the Christmas period it is very popular to fully enjoy the view of the famous luminous nativity scene of Manarola.
The beginning of Via Beccara (path 531) from Manarola:
The information reported here is for guidance only. We assume no responsibility for the actual practicability of the path.
