From Manarola, I climbed through terraced vineyards where old stone walls hold back centuries of labour. The trail towards Volastra tested my legs, but the higher I went, the more the sea stretched out in shimmering silence below. I wandered up narrow stone paths, where every bend revealed dazzling coastal views and terraced olive groves at impossible angles.
The path from Volastra to Corniglia was a true highlight—narrow, sun-drenched, and edged by wild herbs. Corniglia itself, the only Cinque Terre village not directly on the sea, rose like a reward at the end of the trail. After climbing the 377 steps of the Lardarina, I arrived to sweeping coastal views and the soft hush of a quieter hilltop life.
Descending to Riomaggiore, I followed ancient mule tracks and stony switchbacks, with the town slowly revealing itself like a painted illusion. Its bright houses stacked against the cliffs seemed almost to spill into the harbour below.
Further north, in Ligurian Portofino—a lesser-known but striking coastal town—I hiked forgotten trails through terraced hillsides and dry, fragrant forests. I found solitude and sweeping sea panoramas with every step. It was a marvellous stop-over for delicious, refreshing gelato overlooking colourful houses of the region.
These walks were steep, sun-soaked, and spectacular. The reward was not just in the scenery, but in the rhythm of the trail itself—a slow, deliberate way of seeing Liguria’s wild and timeless beauty.
If you'd like to venture along Italy's stunning Ligurian Riviera like Aleksandra, be sure to check out our 'Walking the Cinque Terra & Portifino' and 'Walking the Ligurian Riviera' itineraries. For further information and guidance on our Italian walking holidays, contact our expert team today.
