A long and unusual itinerary that begins from the Moneglia promenade, a marine and rural village, an almost hidden beach vacation jewel, and immediately faces one of the weirdest Ligurian roads: the SP 370. This is the “road of tunnels” that, in an alternate one-way, passes through the tunnels of the former one-track railway due north-west up to Riva Trigoso with its beaches and shipyards. From here, the SS 1 Aurelia road continues on due north-west touching the stylish town of Sestri Levante, running along the beaches of Cavi, entering the beautiful city of Lavagna and passing the Entella river before it enters the sea. Past the river there is Chiavari; then turn right following the stream along via Marconi. The road, changing a few names, finally becomes via Piacenza and then road SP 225, and it remains so until the end of the village of Carasco. On the right, the SP 586 road begins and then climbs the Sturla valley among woods, chestnut trees, cultivated fields and finally it crosses the rural and artisan villages of Mezzanego and Borzonasca. Upstream of the latest, the road winds through woods that let the traveller enjoy from time to time glimpses of the sea. At the Forcella pass, the panorama towards the sea, on the south, is vast and charming.

Continuing on, one enters the plateau of the upper Aveto valley, a landscape that is truly mountainous and that makes one forget very quickly about the sea and the Riviera. Grazing cattle, flowery meadows with purple crocuses, the flight of the birds of prey, the fragrance of the woods, mushrooms and creeks… the best of this part of the Apennines. We pass now through a few small villages and the main inhabited centre on the plateau, Rezzoaglio; right after, one enters on the right the SP 86 road that after an ascending path, turns left onto the SP 654 road which leads, after approximately 107 minutes and 67 km, to the main village of the mountain area: Santo Stefano d’Aveto. Going back to the sea is easy: just follow the same roads backward, passing Rezzoaglio and continuing on the SP 586 road up to Parazzuolo; on the right, enter road SP 56 that climbs up to the springs of the Aveto river among grazing animals and rural houses.

Once reached the Scoglina pass, take the SP 23 road which begins a steep descent “from sky to sea” touching the village of Favale di Malvaro and “landing” on the SP 225 road of Fontanabuona in Monleone di Cicagna. Follow it on the left for a brief stretch towards the sea, due south-east up to Pian dei Ratti, then turn right onto the SP 58 road that goes past Coreglia Ligure and climbs towards the ridges that face the Tigullio Gulf and the city of Rapallo.

A winding road will lead you back down among holm oaks, olive groves and small centres – once rural and now tourism destinations – to the end of the itinerary in Rapallo. In total, this trip is 3 hours and 19 minutes for a stretch 125 km long.