While the Portovenere – Levanto Trail is one of the top choices of experienced mountain hikers, it is not the only one to take. Tourists might also try the Blue Path (Sentiere Azzuro), which ties together Riomaggiore and Monterosso, while also being connected to the other three villages.

The Blue Path has four stretches. The first one is called Via dell’Amore. This is actually a pedestrian path used by railroad workers in the early 20th century. It connects Riomaggiore with Manarola, and it provides the perfect landscape for a romantic walk: tourists might just as well visit the Bar of Love (Bar dell’Amore) near Manarola, where they can enjoy the breeze of the sea from a very well placed terrace.

Another stretch of the Blue Path connects Manarola with Corniglia. On this part of the route, hikers can choose to take a path which runs virtually parallel to the cemetery, on a centuries old pavement, or they take the boardwalk to Corniglia.

The route from Corniglia to Vernazza takes tourists along an olive grove. Passing past Guvano, one can spot a small picnic area crossed by a picturesque spring which adds to the general "je ne sais quoi" of the place. The path then runs through a vineyard, eventually reaching Vernazza.

The path from Vernazza to Monterosso is, it too, pegged out by vineyards and olive groves, until it reaches dell'Acquapendente, a valley where farmers carry on their centuries-old activities: cultivating all sorts of vegetables, lemons and, of course, olive trees and grapes. In this valley the hiker can also enjoy the sight of a small stream of water that abruptly flows into the sea from a cliff.

While the Blue Path is only 10 kilometers long and it is actually quite easy to follow, tourists should not rush in covering it as quickly as they can, since Cinque Terre is one of the most beautiful places in Italy, and the Blue Path meanders right through the very bosom of this place full of traditions and nature beauties.

Go to top