504 (former no. 4) Sant'Antonio - Schiara

• Forward time:  2 hour/s
• Return time: 1 hour/s 30 minutes
• Difficulty Level: EE - For expert hikers
• Length: 2.521 km
• Difference in height: 372m

From the village of Biassa the trail climbs up a well-kept stairway along the slope facing La Spezia, until it reaches the hill pass of Sant'Antonio (508 meters a.s.l.), where it enters the boundary of the National Park and crosses the AV5T. Nearby the chapel of Saint Anthony, dedicated to the military corps "Alpini", there is a picnic area with with wooden tables and a fresh water fountain. From the fork in front of the chapel trail 504 descends on the paved road to Schiara (closed to traffic except for residents) for about 500 metres until it reaches the so-called Menhir of Biassa. The monolith is possibly of pre-Christian origin, and has a small cross placed on its top.

The trail then leaves the paved road and climbs down to the right, among holm and cork oaks, crossing a dirt road and passing by a fork with the cobbled muletrack leading to Monesteroli (trail 536), that must be left on the right. From this point on the trail is surrounded by a more domesticated landscape, consisting of dry stone walls and cultivated terraces, until it reaches the Fountain of Nozzano, built in the Napoleonic period, where the alpine newt can be easily observed. At this point the trail also crosses the 535 to Fossola. The main track passes along a rock face before meeting again the paved road to Schiara, with which shares a short stretch downhill. At the first switchback bend the trail then continues off road on a wide flat path that soon becomes a stone staircase, descending among vineyards and Mediterranean scrub down to the hamlet of Schiara. Along the staircase a small tabernacle can be spotted just above the first houses of the village. The hiking can continue, from nearby the church of Saint Anthony in Schiara, on the secondary path to Campiglia (504C), as the main track that would descend steeply to the sea is now impassable due to several landslides.

Points of Interest:

• Localities crossed: S.Antonio, Nozzano, Schiara
• Plants: Pinewood of maritime pines, cultivated fields, garrigue and rocky soil vegetation, cork and holm oaks wood, Mediterranean scrub
• Archaeological evidence: Biassa Menhir
• Ethnographical evidence: Votive tabernacle
• Architectural, historical and artistic Beauties: Fountain of Nozzano
• Services and shops: S. Antonio
• Points of water: Nozzano (potability must be verified)

More information at mappe.parconazionale5terre.it:

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