TECHNICAL DATA OF THE CORNIGLIA TO MANAROLA TREK
Difficulty: medium
Elevation gain: 335 meters
Trail number: 506, then 586, 587
Recommended period: all year round (not recommended in case of bad weather)
Duration: 2 and a half hours
Suggestions: the trail has a very steep climb in the first part (1200 steps!), which the laziest can avoid by taking the shuttle bus from Manarola to Volastra, which normally runs every hour. Alternatively, you can start the path from Corniglia, the climb will be less steep but longer.
The Manarola to Corniglia path (and the reverse one), unlike the blue path, is completely free
Vineyards and terraces: the characteristic of the Manarola to Corniglia trail
In 1997 the Cinque Terre became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a “cultural landscape”. In particular, walking along the Manarola to Corniglia path, you can breathe the popular history and traditions that have made these villages worldwide known.
This path, marked with the numbers 506; 586; 587, allows you to see with your own eyes the spectacular terraces supported by dry stone walls that stretch from the hills to the sea. In fact, man began to modify this territory more than 1000 years ago to make it cultivable.
Manarola, the most photographed village of the Cinque Terre
Everyone has come across, at least once, on social media or on the web, in newspapers or postcards, images of Manarola. The most striking thing are the colored tower-houses that are reflected in the sea. But live is even better! You breathe in the scents of the sea, you are caressed by the breeze, you walk through the narrow carugi, pervaded by the scent of freshly baked focaccia. Manarola, founded shortly after the year 1000 by the inhabitants of Volastra, develops around the Groppo stream, now covered. The first documents mentioning Manarola date back to 1266, when the village was under the dominion of the Fieschis. A few years later it was conquered by Genoa which, under the leadership of Oberto Doria, destroyed the castle together with the city walls.
How to reach the Manarola to Corniglia Trail:
The easiest way to get to Manarola is by train. A car is not recommended because parking is limited and very expensive. Starting from the central station of La Spezia or from that of Levanto, you can take the Cinque Terre Express or the regional train (attention, not all the regional ones stop in Manarola!). The line is very well served in the high season (from April to the end of October), with trains running approximately every 15-20 minutes. Leaving Manarola station through the tunnel, turn right and continue for about 150 meters . On the left, in the form of narrow climbing stairs between two houses, is the beginning of the path. P.S: if you prefer to take a walk along the Manarola seafront, to see the most photographed landscape of the Cinque Terre with your own eyes, just head towards the small port, continue to the right and climb towards the upper part of the town. In fact, this road will rejoin the path.
First part: Manarola to Volastra (sent. 506)
The first part of the path is a steep climb on the promontory of Manarola, known for hosting one of the most famous cribs in Italy during the Christmas holidays: the illuminated crib by Mario Andreoli, made up of 300 characters made with recycled materials with more than 1000 light bulbs reflecting on the winter sea. As you go up you fall in love with the landscape more and more: the slate roofs of the houses of Manarola dominate the landscape together with the vineyards where the famous Cinque Terre Bianco DOC and Sciacchetrà wines are produced. The higher you go the more you will be amazed by this path overlooking the sea, on the right you will begin to see the coast of the Cinque Terre. After about 20 minutes of climbing you reach the highest point of the hill, continue to the right for a small flat stretch until you reach the crossroads for Volastra and start the climb again, this time with less steep steps. This section of the path derives from an ancient mule track, used for entire centuries to reach the sea and the railway with heavy loads of wine. The olive tree, which together with the vine is the symbol of the peasant culture of the Cinque Terre, dominates the landscape in this section. It is no coincidence that the ancient Latin name of this village is Vicolus Olivastre, village of olive groves. In about 20 minutes you reach Volastra.
Volastra: in search of the Saracen treasure
Volastra develops in a circular way on the top of the Manarola plateau. It’s a perfect stop to refresh yourself, fill your water bottles, enjoy a touch of fugassa that can be purchased in the local grocery store, with a breathtaking view. In this town, with an even more ancient history than Manarola, you can visit the sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Salute, built in sandstone in the 12th century. To find out more about Volastra and its legends, read the story here.
Second part: from Volastra to the junction for Corniglia (sent. 586)
Leaving the sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Salute on the right, take the central section of the Manarola-Volastra-Corniglia path. From here, a pleasant flat walk begins, with the most beautiful view imaginable of the Cinque Terre coast. Advice: the path is very narrow and has some very steep steps at times, it is important not to lose your head for the breathtaking view but to be careful where you put your feet! You cross terraces supported by dry stone walls, dedicated to the cultivation of vines. A unique feature is the presence of the monorail, used by farmers to navigate this steep terrain. Continuing, you leave the vineyards behind you and enter a slightly denser wood with the typical tones of the Mediterranean maquis. You cross (literally, because the path passes through the garden of a house!) the tiny town of Porciana. After about an hour’s walk on this path that takes us back in time, immediately after the scattered Pianca houses, we find the crossroads for Corniglia.
Leaving the sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Salute on the right, take the central section of the Manarola-Volastra-Corniglia path. From here, a pleasant flat walk begins, with the most beautiful view imaginable of the Cinque Terre coast. Advice: the path is very narrow and has some very steep steps at times, it is important not to lose your head for the breathtaking view but to be careful where you put your feet! You cross terraces supported by dry stone walls, dedicated to the cultivation of vines. A unique feature is the presence of the monorail, used by farmers to navigate this steep terrain. Continuing, you leave the vineyards behind you and enter a slightly denser wood with the typical tones of the Mediterranean maquis. You cross (literally, because the path passes through the garden of a house!) the tiny town of Porciana. After about an hour’s walk on this path that takes us back in time, immediately after the scattered Pianca houses, we find the crossroads for Corniglia.
The third and last section of the Manarola Volastra Corniglia path begins right from the crossroads 586-587: the descent to Corniglia. Among the Mediterranean vegetation, the small village appears to us at our feet, perched on a steep promontory, dominating the landscape. The descent takes about half an hour, and there are sections of stony and dirt paths and sections with low steps that can become slippery, be careful where you step! The path will come out in the upper part of Corniglia, behind the church of San Pietro, dating back to 1334 with its gray stone facade and Carrara marble rose window.
Corniglia
Corniglia is the only village in the Cinque Terre that has no direct access to the sea. To reach the sea from the town it is necessary to go down the 377 steps and 33 flights of the Lardarina stairway, which connects the town to the railway station and the beaches. Alternatively, there is a small shuttle bus that runs between the center and Corniglia station. But it is precisely this raised position with respect to the sea that makes it unique and particular. First of all, it is the village of the Cinque Terre furthest from the masses of tourists, its location makes it an avoidable stop for those visiting the area in one day or for those, for example, with small children with a stroller. Another peculiarity of Corniglia is its spectacular view. Its position perched on the slope allows for a wonderful view of the coast. A highly recommended stop is the Belvedere Santa Maria, a panoramic terrace from which you can see the nearby villages overlooking the sea, which can be reached along the main alleyway (Via Fieschi). According to some sources, the village has Roman origins and owes its name to the gens Cornelia, in fact some vases would have been found in Pompeii where the ancient name of the town, “Cornelia”, was impressed. However, these sources are not founded, but we like to think that the country was born this way. Subsequently, in line with the surrounding villages, it passed under the dominion of the counts of Lavagna, subsequently under the Carpena di Luni lords and then ended up under the protectorate of Genoa.
Tips:
- sports or trekking shoes because the path is steep and narrow, with steep sections on slopes, and without suitable footwear, you risk hurting yourself
- bottle for water because there will be a fountain to recharge in each village and to avoid waste of plastic and the production of waste
- cap with visor, especially in the summer months, because the path is largely exposed to the sun – anorak in the autumn and winter months because it can be a windy area
- sunscreen because there is no shade on some sections
- a snack to prevent drops in sugar and rebalance the intake of mineral salts, I usually take a banana and some sweets with me
