Hikes and trips around
Excursion to the Palmaria island
The Palmaria, with the island of Tino and the rock of Tinetto faces Portovenere and closed the Gulf of La Spezia.
Once military servitude, now open, is a wild island remained virtually intact.
Can be reached by boats from the pier of Portovenere.
It's crossed by several paths, all well-marked;
one of this starts from the docking, turns toward the "Pozzale" beach passing through "the quarry Portoro, " arrives at the "traffic light" and redirects to the "Path of the condemned" to return to the berth.
It is a journey of about two hours without any difficulty, among Mediterranean lush with views of the bay, islands and offshore.
The soundtrack is produced by land and sea birds with the bass lapping of the sea.
For visiting the island from the sea or swimming in the coves:
- Thel taxi boat of Franco.
- From Bocca di Magra boats depart for Punta Corvo (to stay a day out carry water and a providential sun umbrella)
- For a guide to the island see here
Other views from the island
HIGH WAY OF THE GULF OF 5 TERRE
Path N. 1 AVG: Porto Venere – Campiglia - Telegrafo – Monterosso
(anche Vernazza)
Walking hours 5/6, 30
Sunday, February 17, 2013
An important premise, given that we'll take the Alta Via starting from Porto Venere, lovely city but almost devoid of parking facilities, is recommended for its relaxed, arrive by bus (plus they are really a trifle compared to the amount of petrol + parking). In addition, whether your goal is Monterosso, whether you want to continue to Vernazza you to use the train for the return to your point of departure (eg Sarzana, Genova and La Spezia), as they say the Ligurian "Feive furbi" - "be smart".
Other warning to walkers: the path is pretty much exposed to the sun, so in the summer months go roast is guaranteed.
The route does not present any particular problems, it is for all those who are able to walk 5/6 hours, but there are small exposed sections to deal with due care, for those who suffer from vertigo: with the help of comrades bullies and correct breathing you will get anywhere.
Note to consider here the travel times do not count: those who think the time CAI or those mentioned is silly, this is a route with frequent stops due, the panorama micro and macro is highly pictorial, to observe even the footprints of the human.
DEPARTURE FROM PORTO VENERE.
The bus will get it right in the square of Porto Venere, look at the castle in front of you and to the right you will find a very steep staircase (as they say in a "pettatta") well signposted. If you had not already done so provvedetevi of water, and a lot, you will not find that in Campiglia.
And so on. Soon the steps give way to a stone then other steps, stony, and so on. Have you suffered a hundred meters high so you can see the church of S. Peter, Byron Bay, Island of Palmaria, the immense blue of the Ligurian Sea and across the Gulf of La Spezia and then the Apuan Alps.
Continuing you will notice on the side of the path with a rock drill, is the clue that you are in a "way of competing" * of an abandoned quarry therefore find derelict block residual blanks or even boxes already, at some point on the right side of the ruins of a house there is a large gear and other industrial archeology.
Proceed to about half an hour from the start will be on the right Refuge Muzzerone is early to stop but a haven for those who are out of practice, and for those who frequent the nearby climbing.
From here you will find the coolness of walking through groves of oaks and chestnuts, still on the trail comes out onto a paved road to Campiglia, follow him and follow the directions of the path that the size down, you pass a quarry Portoro active, you will see the beautiful dark stone with gold veining. The trail leaves the road, back and after a grove you will review the sea.
Here the rock is dark red, but no more Portoro Basalt, the telluric force I put all the sedimentary strata from horizontal to vertical or oblique, this is a show. Here are the few exposed sections, but do not lose heart: they are very few and short. If you turn back you will see only the tip of your departure the great green forest, the white cliffs and the blue sea.
Next to the way riabbandonate the coast and through a grove you find yourself on a paved road that leads to CAMPIGLIA. Here you will find food, bar and so on, but be careful in winter often these are CLOSED (my experience docet).
Resume AVG 1 and through the woods, you will notice on your right a bird observatory and for the sight of fire. By the way, you'll notice a lot of dry pine, some even killed on the trail, are the legacy of a huge fire.
Next you will find the church of S. Antonio Abate (note not the most famous of Padua, this is the pig, protector of animals) that have restored Alpine, attached is a tiny dining with a large open space (Bar La Pineta tel 3332778084, he always ensures the opening Saturday and Sunday and every day during the summer, but for groups and make sure the opening calls, has a sweet wine, such as
sciacchetrà, a bicchieretto helps run the 'suspends two).
Walking! It resumes a grove and soon after he arrives at THE TELEGRAPH, already important military post for the excellent view with large hotel restaurant provided hours of paved road that takes you back to "civilization" but they come from hordes of uncivilized and their tracks around there.
Here you are at "a crossroads", you say. No to a Trivio. In fact in front of you there are: n The AVG. 1, which takes you directly to the AVG Vernazza n. 3, which takes you directly to the AVG Riomaggiore n. 3A, which takes you to the same, but Riomaggiore for the Monastery the Madonna of Montenero.
"Stretta la foglia, larga la via, scegliete la vostra io ho scelto la mia"
I take the 3A: a large easy dirt road downhill, at some point you will turn left on a path that runs along some houses and leads to MONASTERY OF OUR LADY OF MONTENERO.
From here to Riomaggiore careful careful careful: it's all a staircase, who has the disorder knees be prepared, if it rains or is wet with dew attentive to slip (I've seen some days). You're in view of Riomaggiore, is back there, but you get there in half an hour, you will pass under the road. You do what you want: if you fear even the steps Pigliate asphalt, otherwise continue the path passes behind the cemetery almost here and you have arrived at Riomaggiore.
Stop, relax, have fun, you have at the end of the descent of a porch that leads you to the left to the right port to the train station.
* The Way of contention was a system of transport blocks of stone from the quarry in the valley, the blocks (the charge) placed on rollers oak (hence the running) was tied with ropes to the rock piles thickened (the piri) quitting plan plan these strings and putting new bearings under the charge this was operated on the road was now prepared properly smoothing the corner now by filling out a depression.
The operators of these operations were risky companies catalysts under the command of a chief contention that arose on the charge and with loud voices and colorful saracche drove all operations.
