In Levanto: walking and cycling with sea views

Everything has been said and written about the Cinque Terre, the Via dell’Amore, and the many coastal and seaside paths that reveal the region’s beauty and form its hiking heritage. They remain a unique paradise, but for those wishing to avoid the summer ‘crowds’ of visitors and tourists, an interesting alternative is Levanto, whose main attraction – apart from the splendid gulf where you can enjoy the sea and sunbathe on the very long sandy beach (almost entirely equipped) – is its outdoor activities. There are dozens of routes, totalling over 50 kilometres, winding through the hills overlooking the town and heading towards Bonassola on one side and Monterosso on the other. One of the most accessible and pleasant is the Maremonti Cycle and Footpath, which runs completely flat for about 6 km from the seafront to Framura along the route of the former railway line; once you reach the station, you can take the Via del Mare, an artificial walkway about 800 metres long carved directly into the rocks, leading to the beautiful and uncrowded beaches of Arena and La Vallà, overlooking which, perched high above the sea, are the elegant accommodation facilities of the Sesta Terra Natural Resort. Along the route, a longer stop in Bonassola allows you to visit the little church of the Madonna della Punta, a very picturesque spot (especially at sunset) which can be reached in about 15 minutes from the western end of the beach. From Levanto, meanwhile, hiking enthusiasts can take the path that starts at the jetty near Villa Agnelli and climbs to the top of the headland, continuing through the heart of the woodland before descending to Monterosso (about two and a half hours’ walk) or take the detour leading to the ancient ruins of the Hermitage of Sant’Antonio del Mesco, treating themselves in either case to beautiful views of the sea and the unmistakable panorama of the Cinque Terre.

Levanto