501 (former no. 01) Riomaggiore - Sella La Croce

• Departure: Riomaggiore
• Forward time:  1 hour 30 minutes
• Return time:  55 minutes
• Difficulty Level: EE - For expert hikers
• Length: 2.349 km
• Difference in height: 583m
• Involved Municipalities: Riomaggiore

Historical muletrack between Riomaggiore and the Vara-sea watershed. The trail comes off from the highway, near the Castle. After passing by you meet the tabernacle of Our Lady of the Castle and climb the hill until you cross the provincial road SP 370 (Litoranea). Following the trail through terraces of vineyards and orchards you reach Costa Campione via a steep ascent. Further along the trail abandoned vineyards are replaced by woods of chestnut and pine trees. Beside one of the vineyards you can spot a niche popularly known as "Maduneta Palermi".

The trail crosses the dirt road Via dei Santuari (trail 530) and continues uphill into the woods. From here on the trail becomes a wide dirt track. Due to the laying of natural gas pipelines, the trail lost its original feature. A well-kept cobblestoned stretch can be found further on the trail, switchback-turning twice before reaching Sella La Croce on the ridge (637 meters a.s.l.). The place owes its name to a sandstone votive stone carved with crosses and cup marks, and is an important road junction reached also by the AV5T. The trail continues beyond the Park's boundary, in the Vara valley until the village of Càrpena.

Points of Interest:

• Localities crossed: Riomaggiore, Costa Campione, La Croce
• Plants: Pinewood of maritime pines, wood of holm oaks, wood of chestnut trees, high shrubs, cultivated fields
• Archaeological evidence: Votive stone carved with crosses and cup marks
• Ethnographical evidence: Edicola votiva
• Services and shops: Riomaggiore

More information at mappe.parconazionale5terre.it:

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