The Verde Azzurro path, or "Blue trail" is a hiking route that runs entirely within the
Cinque Terre National Park, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
, primarily connecting the five main villages.
Currently listed as route 592, it is commonly referred to as Trail SVA2, the former path number of the
CAI of
La Spezia. The path has historically been used by the local inhabitants to travel on foot between the villages of the park.
Route
The path starts from
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore ( lij, Rimazzô, locally ) is a village and commune in the province of La Spezia, situated in a small valley in the Liguria region of Italy. It is the first of the Cinque Terre one meets when travelling north from La Spezia.
Th ...
to reach
Monterosso al Mare
Monterosso al Mare ( lij, Munterussu) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of La Spezia, part of the region of Liguria, Northern Italy. It is one of the five villages in Cinque Terre.
Overview
Twinned to Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France, M ...
through
Manarola
Manarola (''Manaea'' in the local dialect) is a small town, a frazione of the comune (municipality) of Riomaggiore, in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by ...
,
Corniglia
Corniglia ( lij, Corniggia; locally ) is a ''frazione'' ("hamlet") within the comune of Vernazza in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy with a population of about 150 (in 2016). Unlike the other localities of the Cinque Terre, Corn ...
, and
Vernazza
Vernazza ( lij, Vernassa, locally ; la, Vulnetia) is a town and located in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northwestern Italy. It is one of the five towns that make up the Cinque Terre region. Vernazza is the fourth town heading north, h ...
and is about long. The maximum altitude is reached in Prevo, a tiny hamlet of Vernazza, at about
asl
American Sign Language (ASL) is a natural language that serves as the predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States of America and most of Anglophone Canada. ASL is a complete and organized visual language that is express ...
. It takes over 5 hours of walking to cover it entirely and can be considered divided into four distinct sections.
* 592-1 (SVA2): The first stretch, between Riomaggiore and Manarola, is better known as
Via dell'Amore
La via dell'Amore or The Way of Love (Via de l'Amùu in the Ligurian language) is a pedestrian path overlooking the sea, with a length of just over one kilometer, linking the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola, Cinque Terre, in Liguria (Italy). ...
. It is the shortest and easiest segment at about , and can be covered in less than half an hour.
* 592-2 (SVA2): The second stretch, between Manarola and Corniglia, is long and takes about 1 hour to walk. This section is rated as easy.
* 592-3 (SVA2): The third section, between Corniglia and Vernazza, is long and takes 1.5 – 2 hours. This section is rated as moderate to difficult.
* 592-4 (SVA2): The fourth section, between Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, is long and takes no less than 2 hours. This section is rated as moderate to difficult.
The overall difference in height of the path is about , largely concentrated in the two longest stretches between Corniglia and Monterosso al Mare.
Visitation and Trekking Card
It is one of the most popular hiking routes in the area, and the only trail in the national park requiring a fee. Along the route, there are checkpoints for the
Cinque Terre Trekking Card, a hiking permit instituted in 2001 by the park authority. The card is aimed at allowing the use of the services provided by the Cinque Terre National Park Authority and constitutes a sort of self-financing. The proceeds of the Cinque Terre Cards are mainly used to upkeep and restore the territory, as well as to provide transport services within the territory.
The card is purchasable online as well as at any of the welcome centers found in the park.
Closures
Due to the unstable nature of the land in this area, frequent landslides result in regular trail closures. The park authorities recommend all visitors to check the status of trails prior to beginning any treks through the park.
Since fall of 2019, the popular
Via dell'Amore
La via dell'Amore or The Way of Love (Via de l'Amùu in the Ligurian language) is a pedestrian path overlooking the sea, with a length of just over one kilometer, linking the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola, Cinque Terre, in Liguria (Italy). ...
segment has been closed due to renovations to the trail, and is expected to reopen in spring 2023.
See also
*
Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre (; lij, Çinque Tære, meaning "Five Lands") is a coastal area within Liguria, in the northwest of Italy. It lies in the west of La Spezia Province, and comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarol ...
*
Club Alpino Italiano
The Club Alpino Italiano is the senior Italian alpine club which stages climbing competitions, operates alpine huts, marks and maintains paths, and is active in protecting the Alpine environment.
It was founded in Turin in 1863 by the then finan ...
References
{{coord missing, Italy
Hiking trails in Italy
Parks in Liguria