593 (SVA 3) Telegrafo - Riomaggiore (open stretch)

• Forward time:  1 hour 45 minutes
• Return time: 2 hour/s 15 minutes
• Difficulty Level: E - Hiking (level)
• Length: 4.498 km
• Difference in height: 466m

The trail sets off from a clearing on the Telegrafo hill pass, nearby the restaurant. It descends through Mediterranean shrub until the ancient hamlet of Lemmen, with some stretches of slope and high steps, and a panoramic sea view. From the hamlet the trail continues on apparently flat ground until it meets the path that goes downhill toward the Sanctuary of Montenero (dated 12th century but entirely restored in 1847), passing among cultivated terraces, olive trees and holm oaks. From the same intersection, going uphill, hikers can reach trail 530 (Telegrafo - Volastra).
The trail descends, from the western side of the Sanctuary's forecourt, down the so called "Via Grande" (partly dirt track and partly cobbled) that leads to the village of Riomaggiore going through a wood of chestnut and pine trees, and shrubby vegetation.
After passing by the provincial road SP 370, the trail continues downhill along the Ria stream and crosses a small bridge over the Rio Maggiore stream before arriving at the parking area of Lavaccio, on the upper part of the village, where there is a Park's reception and information point. The main street, firts as Via del Santuario, then Via Colombo, leads from the parking down to the center.

Reverse path:

From Riomaggiore to the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Montenero

From the small port of Riomaggiore ( - Photo 360°), you go up the village along the central via Colombo (Street View 1), until you reach Lavaccio, where the information point of the Cinque Terre National Park is located (2). A little further on, a mule track goes up the Rio Major valley (3), until it crosses the Via Litoranea SP 64 (4). After crossing the roas and passing the ladder, the mule track continues uphill for just over half an hour, passing cultivated areas (5), woods (6) and monorails (7), until you reach the building of the Sanctuary, on the west side (8) (FT2).

The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Montenero (340 mt. a.s.l.) () stands on the crest of the promontory of Capo di Montenero, which closes the Cinque Terre Gulf to the east. From the square of the Sanctuary () the visitor's eye will be able to admire the extraordinary stretch of steep coast that, from the promontory of Punta Mesco, reaches Porto Venere and the Palmaria island.

Points of Interest:

• Localities crossed: Riomaggiore, Casarino, Lemmen, Crocetta, Telegrafo hill pass
• Plants: Pinewood of maritime pines, cultivated fields, Mediterranean scrub, high shrubland, wood of holm oaks
• Archaeological evidence: Cavaneo
• Ethnographical evidence: Dry stone walls, mill, shrine of Madonna di Montenero in Terzo, other votive tabernacles,stone altar, sandstone basin in Lemmen
• Architectural, historical and artistic Beauties: Ancient stone bridge, Sanctuary Madonna di Montenero, Chapel of Saint Bernard

More information at mappe.parconazionale5terre.it:

• Detailed description
• Photos of the path
• Altimetry profile
• Interactive map