The Monti Liguri Trail

Nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts will enjoy the ridgetop "highway" known as the Monti Liguri Trail. Officially known as the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri (the high road of the Ligurian Mountains), it really is a high road - it rims the ridge along the Appenines, traversing the entire crescent of Liguria. The 440 kilometer-long trail starts near the French border at Ventimiglia and ribbons it way to Bolano, at the Tuscany line.

The Monti Liguri Trail is divided into 44 sections of varying lengths and difficulty, offering plenty of options for everyone, families with kids to expert hikers. There are lots of dedicated walkers who plan their vacations to come and hike the entire trail! Along the way you'll find rifugi, which are like rustic inns, that offer meals and sometimes lodgings.

The trail was an important "roadway" for centuries, a maintained pathway that connected mountain villages with each other and with the coastal towns. It was used by merchants, shepherds, farmers, wood cutters, and everyday folk as a means of getting around and trading. From the primary crest trail, a network of other pathways branch off to reach hamlets and hill towns. The trails were well-used for centuries but abandoned after World War II when modern roads reached the region. The trails were recuperated by the Italian Alpine Club and other organizations.

The Monti Liguri Trail can be completed on foot, mountain bike or horseback. Along the route it crosses or branches off to several national and regional parks, including the Parco di Portofino, the Parco dell'Antola and the UNESCO designated national park of the Cinque Terre. It takes in a variety of landscapes, including peaks, hills, meadows, alpine lakes and streams, with breathtaking views wherever you look. There are abundant wildlife and fauna to enjoy among the valleys and woods. It's ideal for a tranquil outing amidst the splendor of nature. Some call it an "eco-museum".

There are maps outlining the various sections of the trail, and the pathway itself is very well sign-posted so you won't get lost. Whether you walk a few miles or the entire 440 kilometers, you're sure to enjoy the scenery of this unique and historic path.