The Cinque Terre and surrounding area is characterized by a network of paths and mule tracks, originally built to connect the villages horizontally, and the coastal and inland towns vertically. Today, it is a true paradise for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts in general.
You can admire kilometers of dry stone walls, the backbone of the Cinque Terre, which were used to build terraces overlooking the sea.
Knowing and understanding the history, techniques, and impact of dry stone walls means connecting with the soul of the Cinque Terre.
Here are 4 hiking suggestions between the mountains and the sea, starting from La Sosta:
1 | La Sosta > Monterosso via Colla di Gritta and Monte Rossini
Monterosso can be reached on foot directly from La Sosta in about 3 hours via a path that winds through valleys, woods, Mediterranean scrub, and unmissable panoramic spots.
STEP ONE- La Sosta > Colla di Gritta (40 minutes)
From La Sosta, follow the road through the village downhill until you pass the church.
On the left, there is an archway between the houses and the colors indicating the start of the trail—red and white signs.
Enter the archway and follow the trail until you reach the asphalt road. Descend to the right.
At the next fork, take the private road that climbs uphill on the left, marked by a sign for cars "do not enter". Follow it until you reach Colla di Gritta.
STEP TWO - Colla di Gritta > Monte Rossini (20 minutes)
At Colla di Gritta, enter the parking lot of the Hotel Il Colle and look for the sign indicating the start of trail 591.
After a short climb, you'll reach the panoramic summit of Monte Rossini, which offers views of the Cinque Terre, Levanto, and the Riviera di Levante.
STEP THREE - Monte Rossini > Punta Mesco (50 minutes)
From Monte Rossini, continue following the signs for S. Antonio del Mesco.
Halfway there, you'll come to a crossroads (Sella Bagari) with a sign for "Monterosso" on the left.
This is a shortcut, not a scenic one, but useful if you wish to shorten the hike.
STEP FOUR - Punta Mesco > Monterosso (40 minutes)
After enjoying the extraordinary views of the Cinque Terre coast from the various vantage points leading to the Semaforo and the ruins of the ancient monastery of Sant'Antonio del Mesco, follow the signs for SVA - Monterosso.
The downhill route leads to the westernmost side of Monterosso, behind thefamous statue of Il Gigante (The Giant).
Please note: 15 minutes from Punta Mesco, in the direction of Levanto, is Case Lovara, a clifftop farmhouse renovated and managed by the FAI.
2 | La Sosta > Vernazza via Madonna di Soviore e Madonna di Reggio
Vernazza can be reached on foot directly from La Sosta in about 5 hours, with stops at two of the Marian shrines overlooking the Cinque Terre and a final descent to Vernazza.
STEP 1 - La Sosta > Soviore (1 hour 30 minutes)
From La Sosta, follow the road through the village downhill until you pass the church.
On the left, there is an archway between the houses and the colors indicating the start of the trail—red and white signs.
Enter the archway and follow the trail until you reach the asphalt road. Descend to the right.
At the next fork, take the private road that climbs uphill on the left, marked by a no-passage sign. Follow it until you reach Colla di Gritta.
At Colla di Gritta, follow the road, which coincides with trail 591 toward Vernazza, on a slight incline for about 40 minutes until you reach the entrance to the square in front of the Sanctuary of Soviore.
STEP TWO - Soviore > Reggio (1 hour 20 minutes)
Continuing along the square until you reach the back of the church, find the entrance that leads back to the road. From here, after a short walk, you'll find the entrance to trail 582 on the right.
After about an hour, you'll reach the Sanctuary of Madonna di Reggio.
STEP THREE - Reggio > Vernazza (40 minutes)
Passing through sunny vineyards and the steep coast, you reach the center of Vernazza in about 40 minutes.
3 | Vineyards & Dry-Stone Walls of the Cinque Terre
A six-stage itinerary off the beaten track
Where terraced vineyards meet the sea
The Cinque Terre were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 because:
"The eastern Ligurian Riviera of the Cinque Terre is a cultural landscape... which represents the harmonious interaction between man and nature to create a landscape of exceptional quality, which manifests a thousand-year-old traditional way of life and which continues to play a leading socioeconomic role in the life of society."
The Cinque Terre winemaker has been described as "a sort of modern, everyday hero who, by continually restoring the dry-stone walls, draws his living from the vineyard, in turn giving life to the land."
This itinerary, which can be undertaken one or more stages at a time, allows you to immerse yourself in the true essence of the land and the work of man to tame it, walking among sanctuaries and vineyards off the beaten track.
STEP ONE
La Sosta – Madonna di Soviore – Monterosso
STEP TWO
Madonna di Soviore – Madonna di Reggio – Vernazza
STEP THREE
Madonna di Reggio – San Bernardino
STEP FOUR
San Bernardino – Volastra – Manarola
STEP FIVE
Volastra – Santuario di Montenero – Riomaggiore
4 | LAST STEP - La Sosta Wine Experience
LA SOSTA WINE EXPERIENCE
WINE TASTING APERITIF
- three Cinque Terre wines selected by our Sommelier
- appetisers prepared by the Cook
33 € per person
La Sosta Wine Experience aperitif is served at 6.00 pm at La Sosta.
INTERESTED?
- hop into Reception and speak with our Day Designer
- maps, tips and fact sheets provided
- hiking shoes, drinking water, surefootedness and physical fitness required
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The five steps of your Cinque Terre Wine & Wall Trail we have selected for you to visit are:
- the terraced vineyards of the wine makers we have chosen for your Aperitif
- the Fondazione Manarola site: the Foundation members are Manarola residents who take care of or rebuild Dry Stone Walls overlooking the western end of the village. For additional information, please visit http://www.fondazionemanarola.org/
Our Day Designer in La Sosta Reception will provide maps and information on how to reach the sites.
CREDITS
Photographer:
ADELMO MASSOLA
Adelmo Massola, born and bred in Levanto specializes in Surf photography: https://www.facebook.com/LevantoSurfFrames?ref=hl.
In 2014 Adelmo turned his lens to the landscape behind him and discovered the magic of the terraced vineyards.
