Behind the Cinque Terre
Enchanted places and legends behind the Cinque Terre.
A journey to discover the traditional agricultural products through history and nature begins from one of the Cinque Terre villages nestled into the cliffs. Going through the green Val di Vara, you’ll be wrapped by the spirituality of its Medieval villages surrounded by woods and pure waters.
Duration
about 48 minutes
Lenght
26 km
The route starts from the village of Vernazza, the pearl of the Cinque Terre, then heads inland along the SP 61 road, taking the SP 51 road on the left. Here, after the ridge, the route begins to go down towards the woods of the Val di Vara along the SP 38 road up to the hidden pretty village of Pignone, in 27 minutes and for 13.5 km. From here, head towards the Vara River along the SP 34 road, through woods that hide small caves of great naturalistic and historical interest, and the villages of Casale and Villa.
The SP 34 road finally leads to the SS 1 Aurelia road near Borghetto di Vara; in the village centre, the SP 566 road begins on the left and must be followed towards the motorway toll, then surpassing it and reaching the SP 7 road, after 20 minutes and 12 km from Pignone, the historic “pincer-shaped” centre of Brugnato.
In total, 48 minutes and 26 kilometres.
Vernazza
One of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy
Vernazza, a sea-matching style.
The most elegant among the Five Pearls of the Coast, embellished with amazing landscape colours, shapes and textures: here is Vernazza. Enter the heart of this jewel village, between narrow alleys, short arpaie (stairways), arcades and loggias, houses with different colours, carved portals, shops and taverns. Enter Piazza Marconi and you already are on the marina, surrounded by liveliness, the smells of the sea and architectural refinements, the cantu de musse (the chatters’ corner), the beautiful mansions with arcades and the medievally structure houses.
Walk now up to the castle, a fortress dating back to the eleventh century, built almost directly above the sea; from its circular Doria tower you will enjoy a breathtaking view over the village and towards the “Terre” sisters not far away. The show does not end there though. On the steep hills around Vernazza, kilometres of terraced strips shine, where precious wine grapes ripen in the sun.
The white wine of the Cinque Terre, already appreciated by the Romans, was born here; it is excellent with some fried, freshly caught anchovies. Now, to continue your route, you need to head inland along the SP 61 road, then take the SP 51 road on the left; from here, after the ridge, go down towards the woods of the Val di Vara on the SP 38 road until you reach the nice and a bit hidden village of Pignone, after 27 minutes and 13.5 km.
ART
Madonna di Reggio sanctuary, Doria Castle, Santa Margherita d’Antiochia church.
FOOD AND WINE
Cinque Terre and Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà DOC wines, anchovies, lemon, honey, DOP oil.
WALKING ROUTES
The coastal path of the Cinque Terre, Alta Via delle Cinque Terre trekking path, Via dei Santuari.
SPORT
Hiking, sailing.
NATURE
Terraced vineyards, Cinque Terre National Park, the monumental holms of Madonna di Reggio.
Pignone
Orange flag
Pignone, among the memories of the King Swan.
From Vernazza, a number of provincial roads lead to the ridge that separates the steepness of the Cinque Terre from the woods of the Val di Vara; the SP 38 goes down in 27 minutes for 13.5 km up to Pignone, almost hidden in the woods, between the thick and lush green, the “Gateway of the Cinque Terre”. A very ancient village that recalls the exploits of Cycnus, the legendary king of the Ligurians with a melodious voice, who loved music and was turned into a swan by Zeus. Pignone welcomes and surprises its guests with the flavours of traditional agricultural products, the spectacle of the karstic caves, home to hydromantes and bats, and then the castellaro of the Bronze Age that lives in the woods, and a colourful historic centre. Walk and travel in time, get lost in a maze of narrow streets and alleys, then live a moment of silence in the Romanesque eighteenth-century church of Santa Maria Assunta. Don’t miss the ruins of the sixteenth-century aqueduct bridge that you can see above the village, along the road to the Cinque Terre. From the masterpieces of history to the culinary ones the step is short: sit in a local restaurant and enjoy the tasty local sausage, combining it with a refreshing white wine from the vineyards of the nearby Cinque Terre. A land that delights you all the way. Leaving the town, continue towards the Vara river along the SP 34 road through forests and small farming villages. The SP 34 road leads into the SS 1 Aurelia road near Borghetto di Vara, then the SP 566 road begins and must be followed towards the motorway toll, surpassing it and reaching the SP 7, after 20 minutes, and 12 km from Pignone, the historic city centre of Brugnato.
ART
The historical city centre, the ruins of the Medieval bridges, the prehistoric castellaro.
CRAFTS
Woodworking.
EVENTS
Historical procession in memory of the visit of Emperor Henry VII of Luxembourg in 1312; market exhibition “Gli Orti di Pignone”.
FOOD AND WINE
Sausage, red onion, “balle d’ase” plum, ‘eagle’ beans, lumé beans, lupinaro beans, potatoes and potato bread, fugassette (little focaccias).
WALKING ROUTES
Alta Via delle Cinque Terre trekking path, Sentiero Mare-Monti, botanical tour of the caves.
NATURE
Karstic caves.
Brugnato
One of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy and Orange flag
Brugnato, faithful to history and nature.
From Pignone, go down towards the Vara river on the SP 34 road, reach the SS 1 Aurelia road near Borghetto di Vara, then the SP 566 road begins and must be followed towards the motorway toll, surpassing it and reaching the SP 7 road, after 20 minutes and 12 km, the historic city centre of Brugnato, a village that beats in the heart of the Apennine valleys, in history and in faith.
Discover a small town and a magnificent landscape, both of profound inspiration, of flavours and passion for work. Here, the value of the land, now Montemarcello-Magra Natural Park, joins the value of prayers and of ancient monastic feats. Find then unexpected moments of meditation, of silence and well-being. Feelings that you can experience walking in the picturesque old town, with its houses painted in soft colours, and along the trails just outside the city, in the lush green of nature.
Here are many places of worship, such as the magnificent cathedral, the small sanctuaries and ancient monasteries, and then even more ancestral traces of the past, like the medieval bridge over the Vara river, or noble places such as the Bishop’s Palace. From the pleasures of history and spirit to those of the table, in just a few steps. Stopping in a restaurant or in a traditional bakery is not a sin, indeed. Some miracles are born among the dishes based on chestnuts and from the typical sweetness of canestrelli biscuits.
ART
Diocesan Museum (Bishop’s Palace), medieval bridge on the Vara river.
EVENTS
Festival of canestrello (Palm Sunday), Flower festival of Corpus Domini, Chestnut festival (October).