Hiking from Monterosso to Levanto and Continuing on to Bonassola

It's been a few years since we hiked from Monterosso al Mare to Levanto, the first city north of Cinque Terre and often considered a gateway to the region.  We cross over into Monterosso's old town and start up the hill to join up with the trail along the sea to Levanto.

Looking back at Monterosso

Following the trail up

Monterosso from further up

Coast around Monterosso

At the top of the trail, we have the option of continuing north along the cost to Levanto or turning right (east) and following a trail along the ridge around Monterosso to Colle di Gritta and Soviore.  We continue straight along the sea and follow the trail up the coast for a little over an hour.

Choosing a path

Continuing along the coast

Around halfway, we pass by and visit Podere Lovara, a cliffside farm that is part of a project to "salvage an ancient agricultural world and to develop the local resources in a sustainable way."  We admire the food products in the small store and the great view and then continue on our way.

View at Podere Lovara

The trail occasionally turns inland for a bit, sometimes down into and back up small valleys, but always returns to the sea.

Continuing along the trail

Returning to the sea

Continuing along the way

Soon, we start to descend into Levanto, with a few more stretches of seaside walk.

Descending into Levanto

Occasionally still along the sea

Levanto appears

We enter the city, pass along the beach, and head over to Cafe Roma for a lunch of  5 Terre Bruschetta (tomato, mozzarella, anchovy, olives) and Zeno Panfocacce (stracchino cheese, pesto with nuts, cooked ham).

Passing by the beach

Lunch

After lunch, we decide to continue up the coast to the next town, Bonassola.  We have two options to get to Bonassola:  a 6 km (3.7 mile) hike and bike path through the old 19th century railroad tunnels along the sea or a trail over the hills above the tunnels.  Since we've just completed a long trek across hills to get to Levanto, we opt for the more-level hike and bike trail and follow the tunnels to Bonassola.

Through the old railroad tunnels

Along the way, in breaks between tunnels, we get fabulous views of the sea and of secluded beaches and coves.

Views along the way

Soon we reach Bonassola and wind up our  journey for the day with a train ride back to Monterosso al Mare.

Arriving in Bonassola

Another great day of hiking along the sea!

Exploring Riomaggiore

It's been several years since we last wandered around Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre and we take the train four stops from Monterosso to reintroduce ourselves to the city.  We've passed through Riomaggiore  many times on the beginning of hikes to Portovenere and occasionally stopped at the harbor for lunch, but today we wander more thoroughly through the streets.  We start at the train station and follow a path around the cliff (a journey that we normally take by way of a tunnel through the hill) to upper Riomaggiore.

Path around the hill

At the end of the path, we take the steps up into the city streets and head back to the sea for more great views of the sea and coast.

Up into the village

Returning to views of the sea

We turn around and head into the village and continue to wander up, overlooking the houses, the hills, and the sea, soon reaching an a large paved square with the church of San Giovanni Battista, built in 1340 and renovated in 1870.

Up the village streets

San Giovanni Battista

From the church, we descend into the city and find our way to the port, full of restaurants, boats, and tourists.

Back into the city streets

Looking back at the church

And, the other way out to sea

Reaching a main street

Passing under the train tracks to the harbor

At the harbor, we stop for a slice of pesto bruschetta and a glass of wine at a table with a view.

Lunch

After lunch, we walk out into the harbor and take a few more pictures up the coast with views of the four other Cinque Terre villages, Monterosso al Mare (our base) the farthest away.

Looking up the coast

It's been a great day to return to and revisit Riomaggiore (and a tasty lunch).