Saturday, July 23rd 2022:
Given the rising temperatures, let’s have an easy hike in Sestri Levante and explore the less known trails of Punta Manara. This will give us the chance to discover some hidden beaches to the east of Punta Manara, as well as attend the Sagra del Bagnun in Riva Trigoso in the evening. We have never been to the festival, as far as I understand it’s about a soup of tomato and anchovies, that will be served to everyone (for free). There will also be live entertainment and fireworks, although I guess fireworks will be almost impossible to watch (unless we spend the night in Riva Trigoso or we run to the train station of Sestri Levante after 10 minutes of fireworks)
As for the hike: let’s try the trail starting from Sestri Levante cemetery. From there, we’ll walk up until we reach the peaks of Mt Castello and Punta Manara, before heading down to the Nostra Signora del Soccorso shrine for a sip of water. Second part of the hike will be about reaching the (very) secluded beach of Tersa Ciazeta ( http://www.verdeazzurroligure.com/index_htm_files/6%20-%20Punta%20Manara.pdf ). Last year we tried it and it was not nearly as hard as the pdf suggests, so we might even extend it by reaching Casa dei Preposti or Scoglio dell’Erbun?
Main hike should take around 2 hours, with 250 metres of elevation gain. Bonus hike is an extra hour.
How to get to Sestri Levante, and how to come back alive:
On Saturday, July 23rd, let’s meet at the entrance of Sestri Levante station at 11:34 am.
Recommended trains are:
— if you travel eastwards
REG 12355 10:11 Genova Principe (10:20 Genova Brignole) 11:30 Sestri Levante
or
RV 3265 – 10:45 Genova Brignole 11:34 Sestri Levante (might be quite full)
— if you travel westwards
REG 12222 – 10:15 La Spezia Centrale – 11:19 Sestri Levante
— if you travel southwards
REG 3015 – Milano Lambrate 7:32 Sestri Levante 10:28 (*)
(there’s also a train at 8:37, with some pretty tight connections)
Return will be from Riva Trigoso, possibly between 6:00pm and 11:00pm (depending on how much bagnun you want to eat!)
(*) if you’re coming from afar, you may consider getting the 3 day regional pass for 29 euro. Or the summer ticket (4 weekends) for 39 euro.
As usual, if you have doubts, questions, Hamlet-like dilemmas… feel free to message me ( vidlothianATgmailDOTcom ) or call me (+393297203364)
Liguriah 