SP_07 Manarola - Volastra - Corniglia

from Manarola take the main road as far as the marina: keep on walking to the right on a steep but short staircase and cross the recreation ground called Punta Bonfiglio. You pass the cemetery at your left and walk uphill first, then on flat ground through the vineyards. After a widening with a bench, you take to the left a steep staircase which rises through the terraces. The steep slope hosts Manarola's famous Nativity which every year in Christmas time is illuminated by more than 15000 lights. Once you pass the Nativity, follow the very panoramic ridge where you can see a monorail which during the harvest is used to transport the grapes through the terraces. After a votive aedicula turn right and walking on flat ground you pass an old television repeater before arriving at a crossroads where you take the mule track which, from the asphalt road above Manarola, rises to Volastra (trail sign: 506). Follow the mule track uphill between the olive trees reaching Volastra (325 m, 1.15 hour from Manarola), the name of which comes from “Vicus Oleaster” due to the old presence of olive trees. From the Santuario di N.S. della Salute footpath nr 586 proceeds hillside towards the west. This itinerary offers outstanding views on the coast and it occasionally follows up along the edge of the terraces. After a cultivated area with vineyards and the hamlet of Case Porciano (360 m) you walk into a mixed wood of maritime pines, chestnuts and evergreen oaks and cross a little valley where, a few meters to the right above the path, there is a perennial spring. Walk a little further along the path until you meet trail 587 which goes downhill towards the church of San Pietro in Corniglia (97 m). To finish this loop you can go back to Manarola by train. In this case it is necessary to walk down the staircase “Lardarina”, consisting of 377 steps, which links Corniglia with the railway station (1.45 hours from Volastra).