SP_08 N.S. Montenero - Riomaggiore

from a widening near the starting point of the monorail (266 m) along the via Litoranea SP 370, 9.7 km from La Spezia, take the staircase uphill. Following the steps through vineyards spread on the terraces (sign trails white and red) you reach the Sanctuary of N.S. di Montenero (350 m, 20 minutes). After a stop at the sanctuary, behind the church, along the western side of the promontory, follow the footpath which, on flat ground first and then downhill, goes into a maritime pines and chestnut wood (ignore the path to Colle del Telegrafo). After 1.5 km following the path, you reach the bottom of the valley and turn eastward. The footpath follows the stream, crosses a asphalt road at 210 m of altitude and reaches the first houses of Riomaggiore. Following via del Santuario e via Cristoforo Colombo you arrive at the centre of the village and thence, by a short tunnel you can reach the railway station (1 hour from the sanctuary, 1.20 hour in total). From Riomaggiore it is recommendable to go back to La Spezia by train. In alternative, if you need to go back to Montenero, you can follow footpath 593V from Riomaggiore’s harbor (trail sign: white and red strips) which takes you to the sanctuary in 50 minutes.